Global beverage firm Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has initiated the introduction of reverse vending machines (RVMs) at its major manufacturing sites, like Moorabbin in Victoria. The unit is located within the Moorabbin facility, close to where bottles and cans are produced, effectively closing the loop on-site.
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A reverse vending machine collects empty plastic, aluminium cans, and glass bottles. These items are then directed into the recycling stream. Users typically receive deposit refunds, vouchers, or other rewards, a model that has already proven effective globally.
Partnership with Return-It strengthens CDS Vic
The trial is being run with Return-It, the eastern zone network operator for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic). The focus is simple: make recycling accessible to more people, especially in areas where return points remain sparse.
CCEP’s Managing Director Orlando Rodriguez noted the site’s history, saying the team is proud to have made Coca-Cola in Moorabbin for 65 years. He highlighted that consumers can now return their containers for recycling at the same location where their favourite beverages are produced. This shifts the usual pattern of recycling by placing a return point directly within a high-demand beverage location.
Return-It CEO Marc Churchin stressed that the collaboration shows how industry partnerships drive recycling progress. He added that the organisation’s mission is to make recycling “accessible, easy, and rewarding.”
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Why this trial matters
The introduction of onsite RVMs might look small, but it challenges one of Australia’s biggest recycling barriers: convenience. Research shows that return rates climb sharply when deposit points are placed in high-traffic, familiar environments. Manufacturing sites sit at the heart of beverage logistics, making them ideal early test beds.
It also reflects CCEP’s wider ambition. Rodriguez said that “the initiative reflects our long-standing support for Australia’s container deposit schemes and our commitment to investing in local recycling infrastructure. We want to ensure beverage containers are kept out of the environment.”
More sites to follow
The company has indicated it will explore deploying RVMs at additional facilities if the trial proves successful. If it succeeds, this model could influence how private industry supports container deposit schemes.
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