The Tomra reverse vending machines work by reading the bar codes. They can do different things depending on how they are programmed. They can pick out and reject out of state bottles and cans. They reject a bottle that isn't the right kind of plastic for recycling. They reject beverage cans that are made of steel so that they don't contaminate the aluminum cans bin.
In addition to the bar code reader like at the checkout at the grocery store .... they even have a bottle camera that can "see" as an item passes through the machine. It's pretty high tech stuff. Each of the machines is about 30 grand to buy new these days.
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