Litter Wombles launch second recycling machine

A litter picking group has introduced a second reverse vending machine to the county that will offer rewards to people who recycle their cans and bottles.

The Northants Litter Wombles launched the second machine at Weston Favell Shopping Centre in Northampton in collaboration with machine installer Trovr.

The first machine was installed at the University of Northampton in February 2025, which has processed more than 1,000 bottles and cans since December.

Mark Watson, a committee member for the Wombles, said bottles and cans make up a significant proportion of the rubbish collected by the volunteer group.

"It's a great thing going forward for the environment and will be influential in helping take a lot of litter off the streets," he said.

Trovr will lend the machine on a long-term basis as part of a trial for the UK's mandatory national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), scheduled for October 2027.

"It's only two machines, but the message it sends shows people this [DRS] is coming and a lot of litter that's on the streets ends up in drains and in rivers and out in the sea, so it's going to stop all of that," Watson added.

"People are going to be able to get money back as well, so it's just a complete win-win really."

Under the nationwide initiative, a redeemable deposit is placed on drinks containers that can be claimed back when the item is returned to a collection point.

But the machine at Weston Favell will be slightly different – users instead exchange bottles and cans for a printed ticket that can be swapped for rewards at participating retailers based in the shopping centre.

Four independent stores are currently taking part, with a further 11 expected to join in the coming weeks.

Nigel Stansfield, cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste at the Reform UK-led West Northamptonshire Council, attended the launch and said seeing the machine in use would help prepare for the national DRS rollout.

"To come along and see the actual machine in use is really useful; we want proven technology [for the national rollout] and by having it here, it's proven technology," he said.

"Hopefully by next year, when they're out on the streets, they'll be very reliable and easy to use."

Weston Favell Shopping Centre plans to continue working with Trovr and the Wombles to also expand rewards in the coming months.

Matt Harrison, operations manager for the centre, said: "It's a really good cause."

Nick Yeatman, the chief executive at Trovr, added: "We want to turn everyday actions into meaningful impact; the initiative at Weston Favell brings that to life in a simple, rewarding way."

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