Empty containers are usually accepted by reverse vending machines in supermarkets. Empty containers, such as a returnable bottle or a drink box, are weighed and scanned in the machine. The consumer receives a receipt with the deposit value at the click of a button, which is then paid out at the supermarket cash register. The accepted item can be automatically divided into separate containers based on material or color criteria.

Vending machines for book and media returns at lending libraries are another type of reverse vending machines.

For the identification of commodities, digital cameras must provide good image quality and high resolution as important features of these equipment.

Cameras are commonly used in the following areas:

  • Recognize the bottle shape
  • Recognize the labels on the returned merchandise