Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has installed a new Return and Earn reverse vending machine (RVM) at its Northmead production facility in Western Sydney, expanding access to container recycling and reinforcing its extended producer responsibility (EPR) commitments.
The installation marks CCEP’s second consumer-accessible RVM located at a manufacturing site, following the launch of a similar unit at its Moorabbin facility in Victoria in November 2025. That site has already collected more than 144,000 beverage containers as of February 2026, signalling strong community uptake when return points are placed in high-visibility, trusted locations.
Located at 128 Briens Road, Northmead, the new RVM is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm, providing both local residents and site employees with convenient access to return eligible containers and redeem the 10-cent refund under the Return and Earn scheme.
Orlando Rodriguez, managing director – Australia at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said improving access and convenience is central to lifting recycling rates.
“Installing public return points at our own sites is a practical example of extended producer responsibility in action,” he said. “It supports higher recovery rates without increasing the cost to consumers.”
Rodriguez added that the Northmead installation also reinforces local circularity. “For more than 50 years, Coca-Cola has been proudly made in Northmead – and now, with this Return and Earn machine, our containers can be made here and returned here.”
The project was delivered in partnership with Exchange for Change, scheme coordinator for Return and Earn, and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.
Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, said the installation highlights the role of industry in supporting product stewardship schemes.
“Return and Earn is funded by the beverage industry, and it’s encouraging to see suppliers like CCEP supporting community participation by hosting return points onsite,” she said.
James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, added that expanding the network of accessible return points is key to maintaining strong participation rates.
Industry backing
Australian Beverages Council Limited CEO Geoff Parker said container deposit schemes remain one of Australia’s most effective circular economy initiatives.
“What makes them work is accessibility and shared responsibility,” he said. “Investing in return points like Northmead demonstrates how extended producer responsibility can translate into stronger environmental outcomes.”
He also encouraged broader participation from site hosts across retail, transport and public infrastructure to further expand the network.
The RVM rollout forms part of CCEP’s wider circular packaging strategy, including its involvement in Circular Plastics Australia (PET), alongside Pact Group, Cleanaway and Asahi Beverages.
The joint venture operates large-scale PET recycling facilities in Altona North and Albury, with capacity to process the equivalent of up to two billion 600ml PET bottles annually.
CCEP said the expansion of its RVM network aligns with its “This is Forward” sustainability action plan, which places circularity and producer responsibility at the centre of its long-term packaging strategy.
Further installations at key manufacturing sites are planned as the company looks to build on early success and improve national access to container return infrastructure.
Ed’s note:
CCEP’s move to host reverse vending machines at its own manufacturing sites is a practical demonstration of extended producer responsibility moving beyond policy into infrastructure. At a time when Australia’s packaging system is still awaiting regulatory clarity, initiatives like this show how industry can take a more active role in closing the loop – not just funding recovery schemes, but improving access and participation on the ground. The challenge now is scale and consistency: without broader rollout across brands, locations and materials, and without stronger demand pull for recycled content, the full value of these systems risks being under-realised.
