Sensoneo says technology key to Slovakia effort

Sensoneo, a Bratislava, Slovakia-based technology provider, has been deeply involved in the recent launch of a beverage container deposit-return system (DRS) in its home country.

Slovakia’s Ministry of Environment and its Deposit Return System Administrator launched DRS collection at the start of 2022. In the months leading up to the launch, “We were looking for a reliable and responsible partner experienced in the field of IT and digitization as well as oriented in the field of waste management,” says Lucia Morvai, director of external affairs and communications of the DRS Administrator.

Sensoneo says it succeeded in the selection process “thanks to its expertise in digitization and references on large-scale systems using its own reverse logistics solution, which helped large, nationally operating recycling companies and take-back operators automate and optimize their daily operations.”

Martin Basila, CEO and co-founder of Sensoneo, says, “By working on the DRS system, we utilize our know-how in the field of digital transformation of waste management. It is very motivating for us to participate in a project with such a positive impact on recycling. We look forward to the next stages that will further streamline the system.”

Mária Trcková, CEO of the DRS Administrator, says to design the Slovak DRS system, the agency took inspiration from countries where systems have existed for decades and complemented it with the innovations to prepare the system for years to come. “From each functional system, we picked what we considered to be the best in specific areas, and thus we laid out the outlines of our own system,” Trcková says. “We adopted mostly the best practices from Scandinavia and the Baltics."

“We had just six months to build the information system,” says Peter Knaz, Take-Back Systems Division director. “In addition to the integration of data of all the stakeholders, we also had to integrate the data of six different manufacturers of various types of reverse vending machines (RVMs).”

Despite a short timetable, the system went live as planned Jan. 1. “The international community was really impressed by this speed,” Morvai says. “However, we have a long way to go and many other plans on how to make the current system even more convenient and sustainable.”

In the first few months, Slovakia’s DRS system has established more than 2,400 collection points registered in its system. More than 100 million packaging units already have been returned since the launch of the system, with the total value of vouchers issued so reaching nearly 15 million euros ($15.8 million).

Sensoneo describes itself as the backbone of the Slovakian DRS and of processes stakeholders need to carry out their tasks and fulfil their goals. Those stakeholders include manufacturers, distributors, collection points, haulers, dealers, warehouses, customers and recyclers, plus the government.

All data is transparently recorded and protected—the life cycle of each package is traceable from its launch on the market until it is returned in the form of recycled material for new bottles and cans, according to Sensoneo.

“Each step must be properly recorded and traceable so we can evaluate and prove the efficiency of the system,” Morvai says. “We are accountable to the producers who finance the system, to the traders who take the packaging, and, finally, to the consumers who use it.

“Avoid littering and increase people’s motivation to handle waste responsibly is the primary mission of the system,” Morvai continues. “In addition, with such well-sorted material, it is possible to achieve higher recycling targets. The material can be used in a closed loop, supporting bottle-to-bottle, and can-to-can recycling. For this reason, we are convinced that DRS is currently the only truly proven solution for many countries to meet ambitious recycling targets and support the circular economy.”

The immediate goal is to collect at least 60 percent of sold packaging by the end of 2022. “At the moment, it is difficult to predict what results we will achieve in the first year, but given the current trend, we assume that we are on our way to reaching a level of around 70 percent,” Morvai says.

Until June of this year, a transitional period is in place when deposit and non-deposit packaging are sold on the market simultaneously. In addition to the RVMs, consumers also can access manual scanners at small shops and remote locations.

Upgrades to and expansion into new segments are likely. “We are trying to further streamline logistics and gradually introduce vehicles equipped with compression mechanisms to minimize the volume of transported packaging,” Trckov says. “We also want to expand collection channels outside the standard stores to make DRS even more convenient for consumers.”