Two very different trials in Auckland have shown just how much schools and other causes could gain from a money back scheme on empty drink bottles and cans.

The trials, run in a supermarket and a school, demonstrate how people respond when a small refundable deposit is offered - and how those returns can be turned into fundraising for local communities.

• The country’s first Reverse Vending Machine trial, which has been running since July 2025 at Birkenhead New World, has turned 28,000 empty soft drink, juice, wine and beer bottles and cans into $2,800 dollars for eight local schools.
• Meanwhile South Auckland Middle School raised $477.40 in a single lunch break in a ‘bottle drive’ supported by the Beautification Trust.

Recent research by Ipsos NZ showed 50% of kiwis see collections for fundraising as a likely outcome of a scheme for Aotearoa.

Support for a successful Container Return Scheme is broad, spanning the recycling sector, local councils, large operators in the beverage industry, trade groups, NGOs and community organisations, as well as 76% of the public (Ipsos 2025).

Having Reverse Vending Machines in every supermarket has helped the success of container return schemes in Europe, where they contribute to over 80% of empty drink containers being returned and recycled. For example, Austria has just announced they have saved 80% of bottles and cans from landfill in the first 90 days of their nationwide implementation and is on track to recycle over 90%.·

Aotearoa has a unique advantage in our well-established community recycling centres, giving a ready-made people-powered network of places where schools and clubs can drop off empties in bulk for their own fundraising.

Quotes (on Reverse Vending Machine trial)

“I really like it. Hopefully they’ll roll out more. It feels like something that should just be everywhere.” Shopper at New World Birkenhead.

“We’re doing over 2,000 containers a week now. The community loves it, the kids love using it, and it’s been really easy to run.” Mark Brittenden, owner-operator of New World Birkenhead.

Notes:

What is a container return scheme?

Container deposit return schemes have been implemented in 32 countries as a way to encourage drink container recycling and reduce waste. These schemes typically involve adding a small deposit to the price of a drink, which can be reclaimed when the empty container is returned to a collection drop off point.

A container deposit scheme in New Zealand that would achieve over 80% return rates quickly and easily and has the support of 76% of New Zealanders (Ipsos 2025) could work as follows:

• When you buy a drink in a bottle, can or carton, and return the empty container to a collection location, you can claim back 20c per container
• A 20 cent refundable deposit would be added to the price of eligible drink containers (e.g. bottles, cans, cartons)
• Empty containers could be returned to designated collection points to reclaim the 20 cent deposit
• Collection points may be located at sites such as supermarkets, community recycling centres, or standalone depots
• The scheme would be funded through fees to beverage producers/importers as well as the unclaimed deposits
• Individuals and groups could collect and return containers to raise funds

For more information on a container deposit scheme in New Zealand see https://zerowaste.co.nz/container-return-scheme/

Don’t they have these in Australia? Yes with a slightly different model that varies across the different states in Australia. It’s working well for fundraising.

Which eight schools are benefiting from the Reverse Vending Machine trial at New World Birkenhead? First three months, the schools were Beach Haven Primary School, Kauri Park School, Birkdale Primary School and Birkenhead Primary School. The schools being supported during the second three-months of the trial are Birkdale North School, Chelsea Primary School, St Marys Northcote and Verran Primary School.

Which companies are behind the Reverse Vending Machine trial. The Reverse Vending Machine is supplied, wrapped, and maintained by TOMRA. It is hosted by New World Birkenhead store owners, Heidi and Mark Brittenden, with the support of Foodstuffs. All containers are picked up by Reclaim and recycled.

School case study (optional background): This is the direct link to the South Auckland Middle School trial case study, including quotes. 
https://zerowaste.co.nz/container-return-scheme/trial-case-studies-south-auckland-middle-school

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