The present application relates generally to methods and systems for making payments for recyclable items such as beverage containers deposited at reverse vending machines.
Container deposit laws also known as “bottle bills” require consumers to pay a small refundable deposit on containers (such as beer, soft drink, and other beverage containers) they purchase to improve the rate of recycling or reuse.
Bottle bills in most states typically work as follows. When a retailer buys beverages from a distributor, the retailer pays a deposit to the distributor for each can or bottle purchased. The consumer pays the deposit to the retailer when buying the beverage. When the consumer returns the empty beverage container to the retail store, a redemption center, or a reverse vending machine, the deposit is refunded. The retail store or redemption center recoups the deposit from the distributor, typically along with an additional handling fee to help cover the cost of handling the containers.
As used herein, the term “distributor” refers to a product maker (e.g., the company producing the product such as the Coca-Cola Company) or to an entity distributing products from a product maker to retailers.
Reverse vending machines are automated machines that accept used beverage containers and return container deposits to users. Manufacturers of reverse vending machines include Tomra, Wincor Nixdorf, Envipco, Repant, reVend, and Can and Bottle Systems.
In use, the user places the empty beverage container into a receiving aperture of the reverse vending machine. The reverse vending machine automatically identifies the beverage container, e.g., by scanning the beverage container's UPC code. Eligible containers are accepted, and the user is paid. The user is typically given a receipt that can be redeemed at a retailer checkout station. Accepted containers are typically crushed or broken in the reverse vending machines to reduce their size.