Coca-Cola and Merlin Collaborate on Recycling Initiative at UK Attractions

Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments have entered the fifth year of their collaboration, focusing on recycling efforts through reverse vending machines situated at various UK attractions. The initiative encourages visitors to recycle 500ml plastic bottles in these specially designed machines, available at popular theme parks such as Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.

Since the program's inception, hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles have been recycled, with machine usage rising by 18% between 2024 and 2025, reaching nearly 30,000 transactions. This growth highlights the increasing popularity of the scheme among visitors.

Jo Padwick, Senior Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “Building on our partnership with Merlin, we’re introducing even more exciting rewards through our RVM initiative. By linking recycling to memorable experience, we’re helping make it easier and more engaging for people to recycle their plastic bottles.”

Dare Ilori, VP Global ESG and Sustainability at Merlin, remarked on the success of the collaboration, saying, “As we celebrate five years of working with Coca-Cola on this scheme, we’re delighted to continue giving families even more reasons to enjoy a day out together – combining memorable experiences with a simple action that supports a more sustainable future. It’s rewarding to see so many guests embracing this scheme, and we look forward to seeing even more participants this summer.”

The initiative not only supports environmental sustainability but also aligns with the circular economy by ensuring that more bottles are collected and reused, rather than contributing to waste.