A deposit return system charges a small fee when a drinks container is sold and pays that fee back when the empty container is returned. In Europe this scheme is usually called a DRS.
The equipment in the field is the reverse vending machine, or RVM. It recognises plastic bottles, glass bottles or cans, sorts them and records the return. Recognition uses the barcode, the material and the shape of the container.
The person places the container in the machine. If it is accepted, the deposit is returned as points, a receipt or a digital balance. Containers that are not registered in the scheme are rejected. The record shows which packaging was collected and when.
Manual return points can also be part of the scheme. In busy locations a reverse vending machine raises collection quality because the material stays clean and sorted. AKE Teknoloji builds these machines in Denizli, including OEM and custom programmes.
In short, the deposit return system is the scheme and the RVM is the machine that runs it. Together they collect packaging at source and return the deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a deposit return system the same as a reverse vending machine?
No. The deposit return system is the scheme. The reverse vending machine is the equipment that collects the packaging in the field.
What do DRS and RVM mean?
DRS means deposit return system. RVM means reverse vending machine.