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Revision as of 23:01, 24 May 2006
A reverse vending machine is a device that accepts used (empty) beverage containers and returns money to the user (the reverse of the typical vending cycle). The machines are popular in places that have mandatory recycling laws.
In some places, bottlers paid funds into a centralized pool to be dispersed to people who recycled the containers. Any excess funds were to be used for general environmental cleanup.
In other places, such as Norway, the state mandated that a vendor pay for recycled bottles, but left the system in the hands of private industry.
Patents
Several patents were awarded to Bruce DeWoolfson in the 1980's covering the technology behind the reverse vending machine. Those patents were assigned to a company, Environmental Products Corporation, that manufactured and supported the machines.
UK History
The dominant vendor of reverse vending machines in Europe is Tomra of Norway with 6 UK Installations
Reverse Vending Corporation is a British company that specialises in reverse vending machine systems, installation, material recovery and recycling.