The idea of placing vending machines for used bottles and beverage cans is not new, but now it appears in one of the most popular retail chains in the country. Earlier, similar bottle dispensers were installed in some of its stores by Biedronka’s main competitor – Lidl.
Biedronka sets up its bottle dispensers. They issue shopping vouchers
As the website dlahandlu.pl writes, Biedronka has started installing the first devices for accepting packaging in its stores and has published new regulations for the entire campaign. The first point where the machine is already standing is Biedronka at ul. Poznańska in Skórzewo (near Poznań).
The rules of the action are very simple. Bottle machines accept plastic PET bottles up to 3 liters and aluminum beverage cans, which are distributed in Biedronka stores. There are more conditions, because the packaging cannot be damaged or creased, it must be completely empty and have the original label with a barcode that is scanned by the machine. For each bottle or can (regardless of its size), the customer receives a voucher worth just 5 groszy (or a multiple of this amount if there were more packages) for the next purchases. However, Biedronka imposes two more conditions here: firstly, the amount cannot exceed PLN 50 (one thousand bottles), and secondly, the voucher can be redeemed during purchases only in the store where the bottles were thrown into the recyclating machine.
Lidl insisted on Poznań. But the number of bottle dispensers is still negligible
Lidl launched its first bottled stores in Poland in September 2022, but their number is still very limited. Not only are all the machines available in stores in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, but more than half are located in Poznań (and a large part of the rest near this city). The vast majority of Poles therefore do not have the opportunity to use them.
The principles of the action in the case of Lidl are very similar. The network’s machines accept undamaged PET bottles with a capacity of up to 3 liters with the manufacturer’s label. However, unlike Biedronka, Lidl does not accept aluminum cans. In return, the customer receives a discount coupon for an equally low amount of 5 cents (for each item), which can also only be used in the store where the bottles were returned.
Source: Gazeta
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