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The fight against plastic goes on a thrill ride!

UK theme parks to offer half price entry in exchange for used plastic bottles.

This summer, people have the chance to obtain half-price entry to some of the best theme parks in the country!

Theme park operator Merlin and drinks giant Coca-Cola have created 'reverse vending machines' - which accept used plastic bottles - as part of an initiative set to run until mid-October. 

The vending machines have been placed at the entrances to four of Merlin's biggest attractions: Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, and LEGOLAND.

They will reward users who deposit any 500ml plastic bottle into the machine with a half-price discount voucher. These vouchers can be redeemed at all 30 UK Merlin attractions. 

General Manager of Coca-Cola UK - Ireland, Jon Woods, says, 'We want to reward people for doing the right thing by recycling their bottles and hope to encourage some people who wouldn't otherwise have done so.'

The incentive is timely, considering the school holidays are drawing to an end, and the whole family can get on board with recycling plastic bottles while enjoying Merlin theme parks this summer.

Reverse vending machines growing in popularity

Deposit return schemes are already running in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, and now the UK is getting involved.
The Co-Op is the first UK retailer to have launched a deposit return scheme trial with reverse vending machines, with Iceland and Morrisons also getting involved by launching smaller trials. 

Reverse vending machines are available for plastic bottles, cans, and glass. Discount vouchers are often given out to encourage more people to return items for recycling. 

A global market report published this week has forecasted the number of reverse vending machines will increase by 133% over the next five years – so they’re likely to become a common sight!

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Currently less than half (43%) of the 13 billion plastic bottles sold each year in the UK are recycled.
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