Mumbai airport installs 'Reverse Vending Machines' for recycling of single-use plastics

MUMBAI: Three Reverse Vending Machines (RVM), so called because they recycle plastic bottles, have been installed at the Mumbai airport terminal 2, said the airport spokesperson.
Three more will be installed at Terminal 1 in the second phase, said Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL).
"The machine, each of which has the capacity to accept and compress 450 bottles per hour and can compress about 70% of the waste so that it can be easily transported to recyclers thus saving key resources, emissions & cost liable for transportation and logistics," it said. In 2019, the Mumbai airport initiated the plastic ban in all its logistics and operations including retail, food and beverages, and partner airlines processes, it said adding that implementation of this initiative had made Mumbai airport 100% single-use plastic free. "Moreover, in the long run the RVMs will help reduce carbon emissions by approximately 125 tCO2e annually, with about 85 tons of allowed PET water bottle waste being recycled," said MIAL. "The RVMs have a unique feature of rewarding the user recycling PET bottles with Zingbus, Myntra, Swiggy coupons and many more options. To avoid use of paper in printing, few coupons offer will be shared with RVM donors through SMS," it added.
"This initiative aims to spread awareness of recycling of single use plastic waste. The added advantages would be a reduction in indirect emission of carbon in PET bottle manufacturing process which is part of Mumbai airport’s drive to 'Net Zero' carbon emission," it added.
The airport spokesperson added: "As a global airport, over the years we have implemented various path-breaking green initiatives be it with regards to carbon neutrality, utilization of solar energy, recycling waste and generating organic compost, releasing a sustainability report as per the GRI standards, among many such initiatives. Having already initiated a plastic ban in 2019, installation of RVMs is an addition to aid in reduction of resource consumption, waste reduction, indirect carbon emissions, and every action in our fight against Zero Landfill Waste."