Singapore-based ATLAS Vending and the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SW Corp), a Malaysian government tasked to administer solid waste and public cleansing management have formalized a public-private partnership to strengthen Malaysia’s recycling ecosystem with the deployment of 50 ECOPOD reverse vending machines (RVMs). The MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) aims to scale up recycling infrastructure, embed sustainable habits in daily life, and make green living more accessible to all Malaysians.
The ECOPOD machines are designed for high-footfall locations such as wet markets, hospitals, universities, and Urban Transformation Centres, where space is often limited. Combining compact design with high capacity, each unit can hold up to 214 crushed cans and 70 bottles per cycle. Users simply register with a mobile number to recycle and redeem credits instantly at adjacent ATLAS vending machines, making the process convenient, interactive, and rewarding. The initiative is intended to transform everyday consumption into sustainable practices, encouraging wider public participation in recycling.
Locally developed as a “Buatan Malaysia” or “Made in Malaysia” innovation, ECOPOD highlights the potential of homegrown solutions to tackle environmental challenges. By deploying the machines strategically across communities, the partnership not only improves accessibility to recycling infrastructure but also supports Malaysia’s Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030. Following its launch in May 2025, ECOPOD has already attracted strong public and corporate interest, and the collaboration with SW Corp signals a concerted effort to accelerate sustainable habits, foster environmental awareness, and build a cleaner, more resilient future.
(Sources: Sinar Harian, Marketing Magazine)
