Sainsbury’s launches DRS

sainsburys-brahead-rvm
Sainsbury’s Braehead’s new RVM

SAINSBURY’S Braehead, in Glasgow, has become the latest store to introduce a reverse vending machine (RVM) for plastic bottles and cans.

The RVM – which is situated at the store’s entrance – offers customers a 5p coupon for every plastic bottle or aluminium can that is returned. Under the pilot scheme, shoppers may return drinks containers purchased from any outlet to the Sainsbury’s store.

Shoppers at Sainsbury’s Braehead can deposit up to 500 items per visit, which means a potential saving of £25 off their shopping.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing legislation for a national deposit return scheme, and has proposed an initial deposit level of 20p per container.

Draft legislation on the Scotland-wide deposit return scheme is expected sometime this summer, with the Scottish Government currently planning to launch DRS ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2021.