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Coca-Cola debuts prize-giving recycling vending machine at theme parks

By Taruka Srivastava, Freelance journalist

July 14, 2022 | 3 min read

In a bid to encourage recycling, Coca-Cola, in partnership with Merlin Entertainments Group, is offering rewards to consumers in exchange for recycling the brand’s empty 500ml plastic bottles at specifically-designed reverse vending machines.

Coca-Cola is offering rewards to consumers in exchange of empty recyclable bottle

Coca-Cola is offering rewards to consumers in exchange of for their empty bottle

Consumers can apply for the free VIP experience reward between July 14 and September 30 at nine participating Merlin Entertainments attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, Legoland Windsor Resort, Thorpe Park Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Warwick Castle Resort, Sea Life aquariums in Blackpool, Brighton and London, and Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham.

Each vending machine has a message inscribed reading: ‘Thank you for recycling. Your bottle could be back on the shelves as another bottle in less than six weeks.’

Louise Maugest, marketing director at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “The summer months are a special time for friends and families to get together, and we’re excited to offer people the chance to win some amazing experiences while rewarding them for recycling on the go while at Merlin attractions. All of our bottles are 100% recyclable, and our partnership is just one of the actions we’re taking to achieve our ambition of a World Without Waste.”

Dare Ilori, Merlin’s group head of sustainability, said: “Sustainability is core to our operations at Merlin Entertainments and we are excited to partner again with Coca-Cola Great Britain on this initiative. We are continuing to progress against our sustainability ambitions, including removing unnecessary packaging and plastic on all our branded merchandise.

“In our Sea Life attractions, we banned all plastic straws and retail plastic bags at the end of 2018, and in our UK Resort Theme Parks we are proud to now be operating with zero waste to landfill. We know that there is much more we can do, though, and that we have a role to play in enabling and encouraging consumers to reduce, return and recycle their plastic. This is why partnering with companies such as Coca-Cola is so important, and today’s announcement is a fantastic example of Merlin working with like-minded business partners to help protect our planet for the future.”

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