Aldi have introduced its first ever reverse vending machine trial in Ireland at its Mitchelstown store in Co. Cork, with plans to expand the trial to its Mallow and Naas stores in the coming months.
There's a charity element to the trial too - with €1,000 being donated to Barnardos on a monthly basis for the duration of the trial.
From today, Aldi customers are encouraged to return PET plastic bottles up to three litres and aluminium drinks cans to the reverse vending machine in Aldi’s Mitchelstown store.
The reverse vending machine is capable of collecting and storing up to 3,000 plastic bottles or 12,000 cans at any given time.
An Aldi spokesperson said that "if rolled out nationally to Aldi’s 149 stores, over time this could potentially see an estimated 146 million bottles and cans recycled annually throughout the Aldi store network.
Commenting, Colin Breslin, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Ireland said: "We’re delighted to kickstart our reverse vending machine initiative today here in Mitchelstown with a monthly donation of €1,000 going to our charity partner Barnardos for the duration of the trial. We’ve decided to reinvent the idea of reverse vending, enabling customers to give to a good cause like Barnardos who do amazing work with vulnerable children and families. It’s a simple concept that makes recycling attractive to shoppers, benefits the environment, and gives back to society.”
Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly welcomed the donations from the initiative: “We are delighted to benefit from Aldi’s new recycling trial of a reverse vending machine. It will help make a real difference to the vulnerable children and families we work with, because childhood lasts a lifetime. Barnardos has been supporting children and families for 60 years, and we know the impact €1,000 per month generated from this inventive scheme will have on the lives of children across Ireland.”
