Dutch automated bottle-return machine specialist Envipco (Amersfoort; www.envipco.com), has supplied Greece with reverse vending machines (RVMs) in Athens. The kiosk with the machines has been installed at a beach in Alimos in the southern part of the city. Produced in collaboration with Greek recycling management company Texan Environmental Management (Athens; www.recycling-center.gr), the mobile machines will be rolled out across Greece and its islands by the end of September.

“The kiosk can be easily transported to other beaches and even the islands, playing an important role in helping Greece to develop a culture of recycling and a true circular economy that maximises the recovery and reuse of materials while reducing plastics waste in the Mediterranean,” said Geoffrey Pyatt, the US ambassador to Greece. Pyatt sees the country becoming an important hub to encourage recycling and export the technology to the Balkan region.

The RVM runs exclusively on a photovoltaic system, handling plastic, glass and metal packaging. It issues coupons that customers can spend in a supermarket or donate to charity.

Last year, Greece’s Ministry of the Interior launched a pilot project to install 100 automated recycling units to five municipalities: Kallithea and Nea Smyrni in Attica, Ioannina, Nafplio and Andros Island.