LEON partners with Veolia to pilot deposit-return scheme for plastic bottles, cans

A reverse vending machine unveiled in King’s Cross will accept used bottles and cans for recycling.

LEON, in partnership with recycling group Veolia, launched the reverse vending machine located under West Handyside Canopy, adjacent to Granary Square in King’s Cross as a pilot for a new deposit-return scheme aimed at tackling pollution.

The pilot will operate for six months to encourage people to recycle while on the go. It was also designed around consumers to target the disposable drinks containers most commonly discarded on the go - bottles under 750ml as well as aluminium cans in order to make it easy for people to recycle, reduce littering and enable more materials to be salvaged.

Any bottle returned will receive a voucher worth 10% off the bill at the nearest LEON restaurant.

“A UK-wide deposit return scheme is imperative if we want to round up the millions of stray plastic bottles and cans we as a country are not recycling. Veolia will collect and process the machine’s contents, ultimately transporting the bottles and cans to be recycled into new products," Veolia UK & Ireland Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Richard Kirkman said.

 “We need to push for the right facilities and infrastructure to ensure better recycling and reuse - this is a great step forward," John Vincent, CEO & Co-Founder of LEON, added.