CCEP unveils global first reverse vending machine at Australian production site 

AUSTRALIA – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has introduced the world’s first consumer-facing Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) at its Moorabbin production facility in Victoria.

The machine, launched on November 5 in collaboration with Return-It, the operator for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, aims to simplify returns for employees and local residents alike.

This step initiates a broader plan to deploy RVMs at CCEP sites nationwide, starting with Northmead in New South Wales, followed by Richlands in Queensland and Kewdale in Western Australia.

The installation addresses gaps in away-from-home recycling, where collection rates lag behind home-based efforts. 

In Australia, two-thirds of beverage containers reach recycling after 50 years of programs, but the remaining third often ends up in landfills due to limited access points. 

Orlando Rodriguez, CCEP Australia’s managing director, highlighted this during the launch event. 

He stated that the RVM creates easier infrastructure for people to recycle on the go. Rodriguez noted Australia’s ratio of one RVM per 15,000 residents, compared to Scandinavia’s one per 350 to 400, and called for innovative scaling in larger areas.

Geoff Parker, CEO of the Australian Beverages Council, commended the CCEP-Return-It partnership for enhancing convenience without relying on higher deposit fees. 

According to Parker, such machines drive participation through better access. 

He pointed to Victoria’s scheme, which has recovered over two billion containers in its first two years, and stressed the need for more return points in workplaces, public areas, and high-rise buildings to sustain momentum.

Marc Churchin, CEO of Return-It, described the Moorabbin site as a flagship installation due to its design and community focus. 

He praised CCEP for integrating collection into its operations, a move that extends beyond product design to active infrastructure support. 

Churchin added that container deposit schemes generate economic benefits, including jobs for community groups and investments in local facilities. 

He referenced Circular Plastics Australia, a joint venture involving CCEP, Pact Group, Cleanaway, and Asahi Beverages, which processes up to two billion PET bottles annually at a cost of around US$200 million in setup.

This effort ties into CCEP’s This is Forward sustainability plan, which prioritizes circular principles across its supply chain. 

The company, a long-time advocate for deposit schemes over nearly five decades, now embeds recycling directly into its sites. 

Rodriguez explained that the goal is full container recovery and reuse, turning facilities into everyday recycling hubs for staff and neighbors after more than 65 years of local operations.

In the UAE, Agthia Group expanded its sustainable packaging push in October 2025 with a US$50 million investment in recycled PET production, partnering with local recyclers to achieve 50% recycled content in beverage bottles by 2027. 

This initiative, similar to Australia’s focus, targets higher recovery rates through expanded collection networks. 

Meanwhile, South Africa’s SABMiller announced in September 2025 a trial of 100 RVMs in Johannesburg, collecting over 500,000 containers monthly and redirecting US$1.2 million in deposits to community projects.

Such collaborations show how targeted infrastructure can accelerate waste reduction. 

With producer responsibility laws gaining traction, these projects pave the way for broader adoption of deposit models worldwide.

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