Veolia, LEON pilot deposit return scheme

Veolia, London, and restaurant chain LEON, London, unveiled a reverse vending machine designed to accept plastic bottles and aluminum cans at King’s Cross in central London. 

Located in a high-traffic area, the reverse vending machine targets drink containers that are commonly misplaced, such as plastic bottles (up to 750 milliliters in size) and aluminum cans. According to Veolia’s research, about 81 percent of people would go out of their way to deposit a bottle or can. The company decided to partner with LEON and place the reverse vending machine for six months to encourage people to recycle as they go. 

Veolia plans to collect and process the machine’s contents and transport the bottles and cans to be recycled into new products. 

According to a Veolia news release, the machine is located under West Handyside Canopy, next to the Granary Square in King’s Cross. Depositing a plastic bottle or an aluminum can in the machine will entitle users to a voucher worth 10 percent off at the LEON in St. Pancras Square. 

“We’re really excited about this partnership with Veolia because we know that, as an industry, we need to push for the right facilities and infrastructure to ensure better recycling and reuse,” says John Vincent, CEO and co-founder of LEON. 

“A U.K.-wide deposit return scheme is imperative if we want to round up the millions of stray plastic bottles and cans, we, as a country, are not recycling,” says Richard Kirkman, chief technology and innovation officer at Veolia UK and Ireland. “This pilot Veolia is conducting with LEON is the yardstick for on-the-go recycling. Our research shows people are motivated to recycle, they care about the environment and the vast majority are poised to use a machine like ours when a reasonable walk away.” 

 “We hope as the pilot unfolds [that] it proves the importance of recycling on the go, as well as the need for appropriate infrastructure to facilitate it,” Kirkman adds.