University College Cork launches campus Reverse Vending Machine

According to a recent EPA report, Ireland produces more than 1.2 million tonnes of plastic waste each year (Photo By Tomas Tyner)
TOMRA Collection has partnered with University College Cork’s Student Centre to install a reverse vending machine on campus.
TOMRA’s reverse vending machine was installed 5 July and is operational at Áras na Mac Léınn at the ground floor foyer.
The university has given students the option to donate their Re-turn tokens to Fáilte Cork, a Higher Education community Sponsorship Group set up to support incoming refugee students on the EU Passworld Project.
TOMRA provides advanced collection and recycling solutions to more than 60 markets worldwide, capturing 46 billion used bottles every year.
UCC has had a long history of sustainable practices and environmental activism. The university’s Plastic Free initiative was launched more than two years ago and officially implemented in January 2023.
Since then, the university has eliminated all single-use plastics from shops, vending machines, and on-campus dining facilities. This effort is part of the university’s broader strategy to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly campus.
Looking to continue this tradition of sustainability, the campus has partnered with TOMRA in order to encourage student participation with Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme.
As of 1 February 2024, Irish retailers have introduced recycling points as part of Ireland’s new deposit return scheme to curb the volume of plastic waste sent to landfill.
According to a 2023 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland produces more than 1.2 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, 72% of which does not get properly recycled.
As the country’s Deposit Return Scheme hit its six-month milestone at the start of the month, there has been a dramatic increase in consumer engagement.
The latest figures from Re-turn highlight the growing popularity of the scheme with more than 90 million drinks containers returned in the month of June compared to only 2 million in February.
Gráinne Thompson, Events and Media manager, Áras na Mac Léinn, said: “In another step forward on our Green Journey, we are delighted to have one of the first reverse vending machines operational at an Irish university. Our students and staff have already adapted by bringing their own cups and water bottles and we are certain that our RVM machine will contribute largely to eliminating plastics from our beautiful campus and local area.”
Peter Whelan, managing director, TOMRA Collection Ireland, said: “Having a TOMRAT70 Single reverse vending machine in UCC encourages a whole generation of students and university workers to do their part for the initiative and integrate recycling into their daily lives. We are delighted to be involved in this journey and hope that other universities are inspired by UCC’s example.”