A RUBBISH IDEA WHICH COULD HELP US ALL EARN CASH We herald the return of the deposit return scheme for the 21st century, and this time it’s tech-enabled

by Nicky Godding, Editor

Deposit return schemes aimed at consumers are not new. As early as 1803 Schweppes offered an allowance of 10 old pennies per dozen bottles returned, because it was cheaper for them to reuse what they already had than buy new.

The most successful goodwill return schemes maximised the convenience of the consumer, enabling them to return the bottle to their local retailer, or drop them into a reverse vending machine.

Up to the late 1980s, firms such as fizzy drink manufacturers R Whites and Corona encouraged the return and reuse of empties, but thanks to our increasingly throw-away society, the practice “fizzled” out in the 1980s.

Now the system is being reworked for the 21st century and this time it’s applying technology to support the reuse of goods.

Re-universe, based in Bicester, has developed patent-pending technology to keep items in the circular economy for longer. It uses blockchain to do this.

Blockchain, for those still not entirely sure, is a distributed ledger shared across the wider computer network which stores information in digital format.

A block has certain storage capacities and when each one is full, it links to the previous block, forming a chain of data which cannot be amended or edited in any way.

How does re-universe’s recycling system work? Simplicity is the key, according to Chief Executive Steve Clarke, who joined the company a couple of years ago after retiring as Managing Partner for Thames Valley accountancy practice James Cowper Kreston.

“We have designed a system which gives a unique code to every single bottle or can.

“These codes are different to bar codes which only tell you what the product is, but not a lot else.

“We can digitise home recycling systems, allowing users to simply scan the code on the container next to the bin to receive their deposit back.”

But won’t it be expensive for local councils to replace all their bins with ones which are tech-enabled? Not necessarily, says Steve – Re-universe can retag existing council bins.

There is also downloadable app for those wanting to throw away items while out and about instead of lugging all their empty cans or bottles home.

The software was developed by Re-universe founder Tony McGurk, who also owns Witney-based software IT support company Twincentric.

Having done a blockchain course at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, one evening he was taking part in his local village hall quiz. Sitting next to a couple of guys from the drinks industry he heard them talking about deposit return schemes and fraud. And he thought: “I know a way of solving that”.

By digitising returns and putting them in a block chain you can trace every return, right from the point a can or bottle is filled and purchased, when the code can be activated, through to when it’s recycled.

Fraud is prevented because each item has a unique code. If a person has claimed the deposit, they can’t do it twice and if the product is thrown as litter and retrieved, their fraud will be spotted, they could be taken off the system and lose out entirely.

The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t matter what country or currency the goods are purchased in, the unique code will recognise that and reward accordingly.

As the world enters a new era of belttightening, every opportunity to earn money, however little, is becoming more attractive and this system not only offers all of us the chance to earn money, but also gives us the feelgood factor of doing it for our planet.

And it doesn’t have to be restricted to bottles or cups, any item can be tagged, including clothes – even beauty product containers.

Blenheim Palace puts its weight behind pilot project

Re-universe has just launched a further pilot project in the Walled Garden at Blenheim Palace, which follows an earlier pilot run with Evian water at Wimbledon this summer. It is selling the reusable cups (made by Circular & Co out of fully recyclable polypropylene which can be washed at least 500 times) and providing tagged bins so that customers can wander around the garden with their drinks. When finished, the cups can be scanned as the customer throws them in the bins. In this pilot project, those using the scheme will be entered into a Blenheim Palace prize draw.

Re-universe, which changed its name from Reward4Waste earlier this year, is a young company which can see huge opportunities to use its unique tech-driven approach to solve a growing problem.

The business, currently self-funded by Tony McGurk, is now in talks with several large retailers, producers and major event suppliers, which can all see the technology’s potential in helping them meet their recycling and ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals.

Steve said: “Our solution uses green blockchain and AI to provide anonymity, security, rich data and behavioural modelling. The technology creates transaction records that are immutable, and enable transparent ledgers where updates are nearly instantaneous.

“Our green blockchain has also been designed to be as close to carbon neutral as possible,” he added.

But great new tech takes time to embed into regular consumer behaviour. What will it take to encourage people to adopt this cash-for-returns scheme?

Re-universe undertakes detailed analysis into consumer behaviour and surprisingly reports that while those aged between 18-30 say they are most concerned about the planet and the importance of recycling, they are the worst recyclers. Those who are aged between 40-70 are the best.

Steve says a large motivator for the younger group to change their behaviour will be convenience.

“If you can claim your deposit back simply by doing what you are, or should be doing, by dropping into your home recycling, then it’s simple. We can also send nudges to people so that if something hasn’t been returned, we can gently remind them.

“Encouraging the adoption of responsible behaviour will cost consumers nothing.”