Ireland’s first reverse vending machine is being officially opened today in Carrickmacross in Monaghan.
Located in Market Square Shopping Centre, the idea is that customers receive a 10 cent voucher in return for depositing a plastic bottle. They can then head to SuperValu inside the centre to pick up a shiny 10 cent piece. Simple.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Carrickmacross Tidy Towns treasurer Brenda McGuigan explained that a committee member brought the idea back from Germany and it has also been introduced to other countries including Canada and China.
She added that the plastic bottles will be processed and remade into packaging that will be used locally. Ms. McGuigan also hopes that if the scheme is successful, it can be rolled out across the country.
It certainly sounds like a great initiative and there’s never any harm in having a few extra coins in your back pocket.
