Returning deposit bottles and cans in Apeldoorn no longer always requires a trip to a supermarket. A pilot announced by Circulus has placed two public deposit-return machines at existing container squares.
The machines have been in use since July 17, 2026 at shopping centre 't Fort and Ordenplein. Both locations are open daily from 7:00 to 22:00. Residents can return deposit bottles and cans, receive the deposit through Tikkie, or donate it to a local charity.
The locations also collect glass, paper, and other recyclable materials. That makes it possible to combine several drop-offs in one visit instead of visiting a shop for deposit packaging and a container square for everything else.
Why these machines are different
The machines feed bottles and cans into underground containers with more storage space than a conventional return machine. Circulus, the municipality of Apeldoorn, TOMRA, and Verpact are testing whether this makes public collection more accessible while reducing how often the machines need to be emptied.
If the pilot succeeds, the approach could be used at more locations. For now, the practical takeaway is local: people near 't Fort and Ordenplein have an additional way to return deposit packaging throughout most of the day.
Deposit bottles and cans are worth keeping separate from ordinary household waste. Returning them through a deposit machine preserves the refund and helps the material become new drink packaging instead of ending up as litter or residual waste.