ENVIPCO: YOUR PERFECT DRS PARTNER

Scotland’s convenience sector will play a significant role in the Deposit Return Scheme, which goes live in August, thanks to higher-than-average shopper visits per week than supermarkets and most customers agreeing that local shops are better for the environment as more are visited on foot or are travelled to within a short distance.

Bottle returns will no doubt become part of the shopper mission to convenience stores ranking amongst other valued services like cash machines, parcels and bill payments, and providing a focal point for communities.

Not all convenience stores will be suitable for operating as a return point however, due to either store size or other health and safety issues, and retailers can apply for an exemption if this is the case or if there is another return point in the vicinity (approx. 400m) that agrees to manage their returns.

If not exempted, stores can choose to take back containers manually or install a reverse vending machine (RVM) which automatically identifies the containers inserted and issues a voucher that customers can use to pay for shopping or get a cash refund at the till. The current advice to retailers who are not sure whether an RVM is the right option for them or what volumes they can expect to see returned is to start with manual returns and make an informed decision later after the scheme is live.

The key benefit of operating an RVM is that it speeds up the process for customers and staff with less handling of containers. It also reduces the storage space needed as the can and PET containers are compacted and held inside the RVM. The machine reports the returns data back to the system administrator, Circularity Scotland, who then credits the retailer for all the deposits returned and pays the retailer a handling fee as compensation for being a return point. The fees paid to automated return points for scheme containers are higher than manual returns to account for the cost of owning and operating RVMs.

At Envipco, we have spent over 40 years designing, manufacturing and supplying Reverse Vending Machines that have been at the forefront of many global Deposit Return Schemes. We have a full range of RVMs from large, high-volume ‘bulk-feed’ machines down to our market-leading and space-saving Flex RVM, designed specifically for the convenience sector with its small footprint and high capacity.

With our offices and showroom in Edinburgh and dedicated service support across the whole of Scotland, we are here to help Scotland’s grocery and convenience sectors prepare for DRS. For more information about our machines or the Deposit Return Scheme you can contact us at the below.

• Ideal for C-stores

• Small footprint at just 1.08m2

• High capacity at up to 1000 PET/cans

• Easy to clean and empty

• Front or rear unload for through the wall installation

• Plug and play 13A standard connection

• Cost effective lease options and branding