Kiosk one of a kind. Growing Tomra Collections Solutions equipment in Poland.

UNO automatic is a device intended to accept disposable packaging and has an integrated storage allowing to lodge two fractions of empty containers.

We have already written about incredible recycling solutions functioning in Spanish Pamplona, Greece, Japan, The Netherlands or USA. In those areas equipment for packaging recycling has become an efficient tool of communication and interaction with consumers, who are becoming more and more conscious, responsible and motivated to actions. Currently, two Polish cities can be added to the above list  – Lublin, where at the end of 2012 two recycling machines were installed, and Rewal, where at the beginning of 2013 the first recycling kiosk in Poland was installed. Both solutions were manufactured by Tomra.

UNO automatic equipment, which takes only 0,5m² at Olimp shopping mall as well as on E. Leclerc premises in Lublin, is a device dedicated to accept disposable packaging, which is equipped with a storage capable of keeping two fractions of empty containers. UNO is a standalone machine, accepting PET bottles, glass bottles and cans. Its capacity is up to 500 packaging items. “Currently, the equipment located at Leclerc collects over 1,8 thousand pieces of packaging weekly, yet the amounts are growing every week” – commented Magda Nowak, Development and Marketing Director at Tomra Orwak Polska. 

Waste or gift

The purchase of both machines was sponsored by Lublin’s City Office in order to encourage citizens to garbage segregation and increase environment protection. “After throwing a specific amount of packaging we receive a receipt that can be exchanged for a surprise gift at Leclerc” – summarised Wiesław Piątkowski, vice president of Environment Protection Department in the City Office in Lublin. However, inspiring and motivating the locals to care of the environment through recycling is the main goal for the local authorities. 

At the beginning of January 2013 the first recycling kiosk in Poland was installed in Rewal.

Holidays with caneater

On the other hand, the equipment installed in Rewal is the most up-to-date version of T-83 HCp device, which owing to the innovative solutions ensures the ability to take, segregate and press large amounts of beverage containers, among others PET bottles of 0,3 to 1,5l capacity and aluminium cans of 0,33 to 0,5l capacity. T-83 HCp equipment is characterised by effective sortation and high-placed feed hole that enables the use of tall containers and thus guarantee a high degree of squashing. Thanks to this the system offers the largest possible storage capacity – up to 4,5 thousand of 0,5-litre containers. It also significantly reduces the time dedicated to empty packaging management. What is also worth mentioning is the recognition technology patented by Tomra – Sure ReturnTM, which ensures constant video supervision over the items put into the automatic device, providing the correct calculation of the deposit, security against fraudulent activities and the quickest refund procedure. 

The recycling kiosk is able to accommodate up to 5 thousand cans and 3 thousand plastic bottles at once. The device, jokingly called “the caneater” by the inhabitants of seaside resort, is the first step towards broader activities aiming at full waste segregation. For the tourist community, which is proud to be recognised as Polish and West Coast Leader of ecology, the main asset is conditions of nature and landscape. Thus, the local authorities promote ecological actions. In order to encourage the inhabitants and tourists to use the recycling kiosk the community organised a competition. Each person using the device from 01 February until 31 December 2013 can put the receipts confirming the amount of containers they recycled (at least 10) to the special ballot-box and then three randomly selected winners are going to receive prizes with a value of 300 and 50 PLN.

Like grain by grain, so pack by  pack, and the “caneater” fills its belly!