The question

For a retailer preparing for a Deposit Return Scheme or running a voluntary collection programme, where is the optimal place to install Reverse Vending Machines so that:

• Customers can find and use them easily.
• Store operations are not disrupted.
• Valuable selling space is not unnecessarily sacrificed.
• The machines themselves are protected and reliable long‑term.

The direct answer

The most universally recommended location is inside the store, at or near the main entrance, before any security or checkout barriers. This gives customers an intuitive flow—return containers first, then shop—and keeps the machines in a protected environment.

However, different formats have different constraints. In small convenience stores, every centimetre of sales space matters, so compact RVMs and clever door designs are critical. In larger supermarkets or hypermarkets, indoor entrance space can be insufficient for the number of touchpoints required; in those cases, carefully designed outdoor installations (for example in the car park) with shelters and, where necessary, planning permission, can be effective.

Recyclever’s RVM5 range has been designed with these realities in mind, with machine widths starting from 80 cm and double‑door designs on wider models to keep aisle occupation to a minimum during servicing.

Inside the store, before the barriers: the default best option

For most retailers, and certainly for DRS‑driven deployments, the primary recommendation is:

• Place the RVM inside the store envelope, close to the main entrance.
• Position it before any security gates or checkout barriers, so that:
  • Customers do not have to pass through payment/control zones to return bottles.
  • The return action feels like a natural first step in the shopping journey.

Benefits of this approach include:

• Customer comfort and safety

  • Users are protected from weather, poor lighting and car‑park traffic.
  • The return point feels like part of the store, not a separate or marginalised area.

• Machine reliability and longevity

  • Indoors, the machine is protected from rain, snow, temperature extremes and direct sunlight.
  • Environmental stress on mechanical and electronic components is significantly reduced, improving uptime and extending lifecycle.

• Operational visibility

  • Staff can see the RVM as part of their normal front‑of‑house view, making it easier to:
    • Respond to alerts.
    • Offer assistance to new users.
    • Spot misuse or vandalism early.

For many supermarkets and larger stores, a small lobby area or “airlock” between outer doors and inner gates is an ideal home for one or more RVMs.

Convenience stores: protecting sales space with compact and smart designs

In convenience formats, the main constraint is sales density:

• Floor area is limited.
• Every bay and endcap is closely scrutinised for revenue per square metre.
• There is often no “spare” indoor space at the entrance.

In this context, RVM design and configuration become critical enablers rather than afterthoughts:

• Narrow footprints

  • Recyclever’s RVM5‑800, at 80 cm width, is specifically dimensioned with convenience stores in mind.
  • This allows installation along a wall or near a door without sacrificing an entire gondola run.

• Double‑door designs on wider models

  • On RVM5‑1000 and RVM5‑1200, the use of double doors dramatically reduces aisle occupation when the machine is being serviced.
  • Instead of a single, wide door swinging far out into the aisle, two narrower doors split the opening angle, limiting encroachment on customer circulation and product displays.

Operationally, this means:

• You can maintain a dense space utilisation for products while still providing a compliant, convenient return point.
• Service tasks (bag changes, cleaning, paper replacement) take place without blocking whole aisles or forcing major store re‑layouts.

When planning convenience‑store deployments, it is worth modelling:

• Exact door swing arcs.
• Placement relative to checkouts and chiller runs.
• How service access will interact with peak‑time customer flows.

Larger stores: when to move RVMs into the car park

In supermarkets, hypermarkets and “big box” formats, the challenge may be different:

• The DRS volume and customer base justify multiple return points.
• Entrance lobbies and indoor circulation areas are already heavily used for checkouts, promotional fixtures and seasonal displays.
• There may simply not be enough indoor square metres to host all required RVM capacity comfortably.

In such cases, outdoor placement—typically in the car park—becomes a viable option, provided it is engineered properly.

Key considerations include:

• Planning permission and landlord agreements

  • In many jurisdictions, placing permanent structures in car parks requires planning consent or landlord approval.
  • This must be factored into project timelines and budgets.

• Weather protection for machines and users

  • RVMs placed outdoors need a robust shelter:
    • To protect the machine from direct rain, snow, UV exposure and temperature extremes.
    • To protect users from the same conditions, making the experience acceptable year‑round.

• Security and visibility

  • Outdoor locations should be:
    • Well‑lit and covered by CCTV and/or store security.
    • In sightlines that discourage vandalism and misuse.
    • Easy to supervise from the store where possible.

• Proximity and routing

  • The RVM area should be:
    • Close enough to main entrances that it is clearly associated with the store.
    • Laid out to avoid conflict between returning customers and vehicle movement in the car park.

Where executed well, such “RVM houses” in the car park can:

• Concentrate capacity (for example several machines side by side).
• Provide a clear “deposit hub” identity for customers.
• Avoid compromising indoor selling or queuing space.

Malls and shared environments

In shopping centres or transport hubs, the retailer may not control all circulation areas. Here, RVM placement becomes a collaborative exercise with:

• Mall management.
• Other anchor tenants.
• Facilities and security providers.

Typical patterns include:

• Shared recycling hubs in common areas, feeding multiple retailers.
• Dedicated RVMs just outside a retailer’s unit but under mall or landlord canopy.
• Back‑of‑house locations for staff and B2B use (for example hospitality areas, food courts).

In these cases, agreements must cover:

• Who is the official return‑point operator in the DRS (for settlement and liability).
• How space, power, data, cleaning and security responsibilities are shared.
• How signage and customer communications are coordinated across brands.

Back‑of‑house and restricted‑access use cases

Not all RVMs need to be customer‑facing:

• Factories, distribution centres, campuses and office complexes may use RVMs in restricted‑access areas to capture containers from staff, visitors or on‑site catering.
• Retailers may also place staff‑only RVMs in back‑of‑house to manage containers from in‑store consumption or “front of store” waste streams.

In these locations, the priorities are:

• Proximity to waste and logistics flows.
• Ergonomics for staff.
• Integration with existing back‑room layouts, roll‑cage movements, and fire‑escape routes.

Even where DRS does not require staff‑only return points, these back‑of‑house RVMs can simplify store waste handling and improve recycling quality.

Design principles to guide placement decisions

Across all formats, a few principles help guide RVM placement:

• Customer first

  • Make the RVM obvious, accessible and intuitive to find from the entrance.
  • Avoid locations that feel unsafe or exposed.

• Protect the asset

  • Favour indoor locations where possible.
  • If outdoors, invest properly in shelters and environmental protection.

• Respect selling and circulation space

  • Use compact machines (for example 80 cm widths) where space is tight.
  • Opt for double‑door designs on wider units to minimise aisle intrusion during servicing.

• Simplify operations

  • Ensure service doors open into zones where staff can work safely without blocking tills or key aisles.
  • Place RVMs where staff can see alerts and respond quickly.

• Plan for the long term

  • Consider where the DRS might evolve (more materials, higher volumes).
  • Leave scope for a second machine in high‑growth sites, even if you start with one.

How Recyclever supports different placement scenarios

Recyclever has designed its RVM range and configurations with these realities in mind:

• Narrow‑footprint models (e.g. 80 cm width) suited to convenience and tight lobby spaces.
• Double‑door variants on wider models (RVM5‑1000, RVM5‑1200) to limit aisle occupation during maintenance.
• Indoor and outdoor configurations, with options for integration into custom shelters or kiosk structures.

This flexibility allows retailers to:

• Deploy RVMs inside where customer comfort and machine longevity are maximised.
• Extend capacity outside in car parks or shared areas when indoor space is constrained, without compromising reliability or user experience.

For more detail on model dimensions, door configurations and options tailored to convenience, supermarket and big‑box formats, see:

• https://www.recyclever.com/
• https://www.recyclever.com/blog