Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments have brought back their reverse vending machine recycling scheme for a fifth year, giving shoppers the chance to win VIP experiences at UK family attractions.
The summer promotion invites consumers to recycle an empty 500ml plastic bottle at specially designed reverse vending machines across participating Merlin attractions to be entered into a prize draw.
Ten Merlin attractions will offer prizes, including a VIP experience and Fast Track passes to a Giraffe Encounter at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, a Snorkelling with Sharks Experience at Sea Life Blackpool, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Legend of the Trebuchet and a private history tour at Warwick Castle.
New prizes for 2026 include behind-the-scenes tours of SAW: The Ride, The Walking Dead: The Ride and Ghost Train at Thorpe Park, as well as Fast Track tickets to Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies! in CBeebies Land at Alton Towers Resort.
Since the initiative launched, hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles have been recycled through Merlin’s reverse vending machines. Machine usage increased by 18% between 2024 and 2025, reaching nearly 30,000 transactions last year.
