Tomra of North America, Shelton, Conn., has completed the installation of reverse vending machine equipment at Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative’s (OBRC) new 7,000-square-foot redemption center in Salem, Ore. Tomra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tomra Systems ASA. Tomra is providing the new facility, called a BottleDrop Redemption Center, with reverse vending machines, pre-sorting equipment and an InstaDeem cash redemption kiosk.
The center, operated and funded by OBRC in partnership with participating grocery retailers, is a shift from Oregon’s original “return to retailer” structure. Participating retailers within 1.5 miles of the BottleDrop Redemption Center will no longer be required to accept deposit containers from customers.
Six Tomra T820 RVMs will 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 can redeem their cash deposits at a Tomra InstaDeem kiosk. The kiosk recognizes and verifies RVM receipts and disburses cash in bills and coins.
“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. OBRC has delivered a unique and impressive full-service redemption center solution, and we are pleased to work with such a progressive and innovative partner,” says Ernie Argenio, vice president of business development for Tomra.