Tesco in Slovakia has selected global reverse vending leader TOMRA as the supplier of its infrastructure for collecting beverage containers for recycling.
Customers at Tesco stores across the country can start returning their empty containers to TOMRA reverse vending machines when Slovakia's new deposit return system launches on 1 January 2022.
The reverse vending machines will be gradually installed in approximately 140 Tesco stores throughout Slovakia. The machines enable the return of beverage containers in a deposit return system.
Under Slovakia's new deposit system, return points for cans and PET bottles and cans will be required in grocery retailers with an area of more than 300 m2.
"Tesco is a strong and proven business partner. We are very much looking forward to further cooperation, which will bring customers an efficient and simple deposit system," says Roman Postl, managing director of TOMRA Collection Slovakia.
"The key to the success of Slovakia's new deposit return system is for consumers to value it and adopt it as their own, which can be achieved by making the system practical and convenient for them for participate in. It is also important to make sure that the collection infrastructure in place is also retailer friendly."
Martin Kuruc, CEO of Tesco in Slovakia, adds: "We have already been preparing for the launch of the deposit return system in January 2022 with a pilot project of reverse vending machines in the cities of Senec and Nitra.
“Here, customers can already try out the new container deposit return system and, in addition, Tesco financially contributes for each returned PET bottle or can to making their city greener."
In a deposit return system, legislation adds a small deposit to the price of a beverage, which is repaid to consumers when they return the empty containers for recycling.
TOMRA has almost 50 years' experience in deposit return systems. The company has approximately 80,000 reverse vending machines in over 60 markets worldwide, collecting over 40 billion containers for recycling each year.
