Meijer’s New Bottle Return Machine Will Blow Your Mind

As the young, broke, freshly out-of-college employee at my job, I've somehow become the returnables person in the office. Every other week, I return all the cans that have piled up around the office for some easy cash. I guess that no one else wants to do it, and that seems to be a common trend, considering bottle return rates in Michigan have hit an all-time low.

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But Meijer's new bottle return machine could turn a task that many find time-consuming into a far more efficient task.

Bottle Returns Get An Upgrade

Whether you're returning bottles or cans, bottle return machines require you to insert the containers one by one, a task that can take a while, especially if you have a lot of cans to return or you're stuck waiting for that guy who brings four shopping carts full of cans.

However, I recently came across a Facebook video posted by Tammy Lee showcasing a new bottle return machine at the 52nd and Clyde Park Meijer that completely changes the game.

Because of this video, I had to go check this out for myself. So I grabbed the four boxes full of cans that have been filling my stairwell for the last 6 months and brought the whole load to Meijer to really put this machine to the test.

For now, there is only one of these machines at the Meijer, and it only takes cans and plastics; glass bottles will still require the regular return routine.

READ MORE: The Strange Second Life of Greenville’s First Meijer Supermarket

How Well Does It Work?

As Tammy's video showed, the new return machine automatically sorts cans, making the entire process much better. I turned in 228, and it took just over 2 minutes. The machine processed everything in a blistering 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Cans and bottles that aren't accepted are ejected into a compartment under the main screen.

This machine is an absolute beast and makes can returns wildly efficient. Hopefully, we start seeing more of these machines pop up in other Meijer stores, but for now, 54th and Clyde Parkis the only location with this machine.