The supermarket expects it to be a permanent addition, and the new structure will let shoppers recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans in exchange for cash.
Reverse vending machines are already in use at several Aldi locations across the UK, forming part of the retailer’s wider effort to reduce waste and meet environmental goals.
The machines will accurately measure just how much people are recycling and reward them when they do in the form of money off their next shop.
Here’s what you had to say on the matter.
(Image: Newsquest)
Barbara Goodland said: “They do it in all supermarkets in Germany. You never see plastic bottles in bins. There is money in it.”
Tony Shackell said: “You get 15-25c per plastic bottle in the Netherlands, you get charged the extra 15-25c statiegeld when you buy a bottle.”
Kathleen McCarten said: “We were doing this in Germany nearly 30 years ago. Their large plastic bottles were made of very thick plastic.
“They were washed out and reused from memory, rather than making thin bottles that were melted down each time.”
Maureen Bewley said: “They have been doing it in Ireland for several years, you pay 25cent on Litre bottles and get same back when you recycle.”
Sandy Jonsson said: “Like the olden days.”
Christopher Moore said: “Excellent. It’s been a thing in Sweden for a long time. Encouraging recycling more and rewarding for it. Eases the burden from the usual rubbish collection too.”
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Peter H Bates said: “Shops in Sweden have been recycling metal drinks cans for at least 30 years.
“Don’t squash the cans otherwise the machines will not recognise them.”
Karen Symmonds said: “Yes, and it’s took up most of the disabled parking so making it harder for disabled people to park.”
Suzie Stiles replied: “They added in extra disabled spaces elsewhere in the carpark.”
Matthew Thompson said: “Would hardly call it big progress. It’s been in progress since the summer. Slow progress maybe.”
Louisa Trevaskiss said: “Wow, why haven’t they implemented this before now? About time.”
Susan Hart said: “Sounds good.”
Peter H Bates said: “Can recall 75 years ago. 3d deposit on a Tizer bottle.”
Malcolm Kemp said: “Now this sounds like a great idea.”
Suzie Stiles said: “But you are paying extra up front for the items that can be recycled so as such you aren’t being paid to recycle you are just getting your deposit back!”
Terry Lloyd replied: “I’ll try to avoid buying anything with extra money on because of recycling.”
(Image: Charlotte McLaughlin)
Freddie Jones said: “We are decades behind a lot of Europe with this very simple thing with recycling. An embarrassment.”
One commenter said: “As a child I remember the old tramps with long dishevelled beards pushing along shopping trolleys full of empty tin cans, bottle tops and glass bottles to go to the shop and get paid for the returns.”
Patrick Cole said: “Takes me back to the days of the Corona van think it was 2d a bottle . Ah those were the days.”
One commenter said: “They should be dealing with parents using their car park waiting for their kids to finish school and not even shopping there and causing obstruction to shoppers who do park and shop.
“Alot of them still turning right ready for an accident to happen.
Another commenter replied: “You’ll be referring to the one by the fire station. That place is a joke between 3 and 4. Full of parents with very little ability to manoeuvre a vehicle.”
A third added: “One police officer on one afternoon catching parents doing that will probably soon put an end to it as the story spreads amongst parents.”