TOMRA launches market’s smallest three-material reverse vending machine
Smaller stores now have a tailor-made reverse vending solution for their limited retail floor space, with today’s launch of TOMRA M1. From global reverse vending leader TOMRA Collection, TOMRA M1 is the smallest reverse vending machine (RVM) on the market that can recognize, sort and store glass, plastic and aluminum beverage containers all in one machine. The solution is designed for convenience stores and small supermarkets in deposit return systems covering multiple drink container materials and types.
TOMRA M1 requires just 0.62 square meters of floor space, so that smaller retailers can participate in deposit return systems and contribute to recycling. The standalone RVM measures just 98 cm wide, 63 cm deep, and stands at 165 cm tall. It can store up to 270 PET bottles, 550 cans, and 80 (uncrushed) glass bottles.
The affordable and compact RVM was specifically developed to fit with the shallower shelf space of convenience/small stores. Several new and upcoming deposit return systems have included smaller retailers as return points for drink containers, and in direct discussion with TOMRA these retailers requested a solution that could fit seamlessly with their limited space and existing shelf configurations and dimensions.
Deposit return systems add a deposit on top of the price of a beverage, which is refunded to the consumer when they return the empty container for recycling. This incentivizes the return of containers, which drives higher collection rates and combats litter. Deposit return systems often include “return-to-retail” legislation that requires stores selling beverages to also collect the containers for recycling after use.
“TOMRA M1 makes recycling possible in every store. A key challenge we heard from small retailers in new markets was a lack of space for a reverse vending machine. However, we believe that small retailers who sell a higher volume of drinks could see benefits to their store efficiency and customer experience from automating container returns, so the TOMRA M1 was born,” explains Lars Andersen, product manager for TOMRA M1. “This latest reverse vending machine makes it easier for small and convenience stores to offer container return points for all of their shoppers, and contribute to positive environmental outcomes and a healthier planet. We have been excited to collaborate with retailers to develop TOMRA M1 specifically for their needs."
Bringing together the latest in reverse vending technology
TOMRA M1 also features 360-degree, instant container recognition technology with TOMRA’s Flow technology, for quicker and more efficient returns so that customers can get to their shopping faster. The TOMRA M1 is fully compatible with TOMRA’s portfolio of digital solutions to help stores manage their reverse vending machines more efficiently, improve uptime, and spend more time with their customers.
As well as being the company’s smallest three-material reverse vending offering, TOMRA M1 is also TOMRA’s first machine in the Flow series to be “plug and play,” meaning that it works with standard electricity and single-phased power.
About TOMRA Collection:
TOMRA Collection provides reverse vending machines for Clean Loop Recycling, to transform society’s habits and keep valuable resources in a continuous loop of use and reuse. The company’s solutions collect aluminum, plastic and glass beverage containers to be continually reused and recycled back into new bottles and cans. With approximately 80,000 installations across more than 60 markets, TOMRA reverse vending machines capture more than 40 billion used bottles and cans each year. This reduces reliance on raw materials, and ensures fewer containers end up in our streets, oceans and landfills. TOMRA’s reverse vending machines, digital solutions and service make recycling easy for the industry, system owners, retailers and consumers to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Visit our Reverse Vending pages on tomra.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
TOMRA Collection is a division of TOMRA Group. Today, TOMRA is leading the resource revolution to transform how the planet’s resources are obtained, used and reused to enable a world without waste. The company’s other business divisions comprise TOMRA Food, TOMRA Recycling and TOMRA Mining. The Group employs ~4,600 globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.