TOMRA incorporates end-to-end solutions at BottleDrop Redemption Centre

By
Keith Barker
June 25, 2012

TOMRA of North America, Inc.'s installation at the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative’s (OBRC) 7,000-square-foot redemption centre in Salem, Oregon – called the BottleDrop Redemption Center – includes reverse vending machines (RVMs), pre-sorting equipment and an InstaDeem cash redemption kiosk.

The BottleDrop Redemption Center, operated and funded by OBRC in partnership with participating grocery retailers, is a new model for bottle redemption in Oregon. In a shift from the state’s original “return to retailer” structure, participating retailers within 1.5 miles of the centre will no longer be required to accept deposit containers from customers.

The new facility, which opened in March, is designed for optimal customer convenience. Six TOMRA T820 RVMs accept up to 300 containers per customer, per day, at a speed of up to one container per second. Each T820 machine can accept glass, plastic and aluminum through one receptacle. Customers with only aluminum cans to recycle can use TOMRA’s CanDo machines, which provide bulk collection of 12 to 16 ounce aluminum cans. For redeeming deposits for cash, OBRC’s Salem customers have access at a TOMRA InstaDeem kiosk. The easy-to-use kiosk recognizes and verifies RVM receipts and disburses cash in bills and coins.

For customers who prefer to drop off bags of recyclables using the centre’s EZ Drop System, staff members will use TOMRA pre-sorting equipment, as well as two back-of-house T820s to process the containers. A credit will then be issued to the customer’s BottleDrop account.

“This is the first installation of this type to utilize TOMRA technology for multiple facets – ‘front end’ customers, ‘back of house’ processing, and cash settlement,” said Ernie Argenio, vice president, business development at TOMRA. “OBRC has delivered a unique and impressive full-service redemption centre solution, and we are pleased to work with such a progressive and innovative partner.”

TOMRA also recently introduced their TOMRA-Trac system, which is designed to help retailers and redemption centres monitor and manage reverse vending machines.

Additionally, in February, the TOMRA group decided to undergo a strategic transformation, where all TOMRA companies are to be brought together under one brand. During this transformation process, various daughter companies will be gathered within two business areas: Collection Solutions, comprised of Reverse Vending (TOMRA) and Compaction (Orwak); and Sorting Solutions, comprised of Recycling (TITECH), Mining (CommodasUltrasort), and Food (Odenberg).