27 July 2021 News The Russian Environmental Operator will set up a network of reverse vending machines in Russia to receive used plastic, glass and aluminum containers in exchange for bonuses. Waste will be processed, and manufactured products from recyclable materials will be sold. People will be able to receive discounts and bonuses for bottles handed over to reverse vending machines. By 2022, it is planned to install 10,000 fandomats in ten regions of Russia. “The project is being developed on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, which he gave in December 2020. According to this instruction, cities with a population of more than 100 thousand people, are recommended to develop a network of reverse vending machines and reception points for different waste materials. That is why in REO we have developed a system for collecting bottles through a network of reverse vending machines throughout Russia. We want to form a new market within a circular economy. To increase the separate collection of waste, and the percentage of recoverable secondary resources . And thus to reduce the volume of waste disposal," - Denis Butsaev, Director General of REO. It is planned that the reverse vending machines will be installed in residents, shopping centers, public spaces and transport hubs. People will be able to hand over clean waste (glass, plastic bottles, aluminum cans) to such machines. The container will be read by the barcode, then sent for recycling. People will receive discounts or bonuses that can be converted into cash. At the moment, negotiations are underway with major retailers (Perekrestok, Magnit, Pyaterochka, Globus, other retail chains) with the assistance of AKORT (Association of Retail Companies). It is also possible to reduce fees for the removal of solid municipal waste and direct crediting to a bank card. But this method will be possible and effective in resolving the issue of canceling personal income tax while it is being worked out. At the stage of the pilot project, this year the reverse vending machines will be installed in three regions of the country (in the Chelyabinsk, Belgorod and Nizhny Novgorod regions). In 2022 - in seven more constituent entities of the Russian Federation. One reverse vending machine is capable of accepting up to 600 containers per day. The project will ensure the growth of indicators for utilization of MSW within the framework of the Federal project. According to which, by 2030, Russia should have 100% sorting of waste and reduce the disposal of MSW by 50%. With a collection rate of at least 50% by reverse vending machines, this project will allow collecting 78.9 thousand tonnes of separated waste separated and will ensure the recycling of 1.7% of MSW in 2022, and at a growth rate of 9.4% (78.9 thousand tonnes / 840 thousand tonnes * 100% = 9.4%). According to REO estimates, in 2021-2022 the project will require six billion rubles. Financing will consist of leasing, regional subsidies, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, REO and investor contributions. According to REO’s calculations, the project will pay off in six years. On Wednesday, June 2, REO presented the reserve vending machine project at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The installed machines worked during the event. All the money that was converted from the collected packaging was sent to the Konstantin Khabensky Foundation. The Russian Environmental Operator was established by Presidential Decree on January 14, 2019. The key task of REO is to form an integrated system for the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Russia. According to the national project “Ecology”, this is necessary to reduce the volume of MSW disposal and thereby reduce the environmental burden on the population. The goal by 2030 is to sort 100% of MSW and reduce by 50% MSW that is sent to landfills. Achieving such indicators is impossible without building a circular economy. Therefore, REO’s tasks include, the creation of a recycling system and the involvement of raw materials into circulation for the manufacture of new products and energy production, and the stimulation of investment activity in the field of waste management.