Endurvinnslan
Endurvinnslan hf. operates Iceland's statutory nationwide deposit return system for single-use beverage containers, running 60 return facilities, automated counting machines, and a mobile app to refund 23 ISK per container to consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersGarðabær, Iceland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Endurvinnslan does
Endurvinnslan hf. is Iceland's statutory deposit return operator for single-use beverage containers, established by law nr. 52/1989 and regulated under nr. 368/2000. The company is the sole legal entity in Iceland authorised to pay deposit refunds on plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass bottles, and operates a national network of approximately 60 return facilities (móttökustöðvar) spanning from the Westfjords to the Eastfjords. Consumers receive a flat 23 ISK refund per eligible container, paid out via a mobile app (iOS/Android), self-service kiosks at facilities, or bank transfer.
The technical backbone consists of automated counting machines (talningavélar), deployed since 2008, which use image-recognition to sort and count containers by material type with weekly quality control. Returned materials — aluminium, PET, and since May 2023 also glass — are exported to overseas recyclers, generating approximately 250 million ISK per year in export value. Iceland's recycling rate is approximately 85% historically, approaching a 90% target, with 2021 material-specific rates of 91% aluminium, 90% PET, and 82% glass; 99% of received containers are now recycled versus reused.
Endurvinnslan's revenue is derived primarily from exporting recovered materials and from published disposal fees charged to producers and importers for handling non-deposit packaging (1,600 ISK per crate, 3,200 ISK per box, 7,500 ISK per pallet). Deposit refunds themselves are pass-throughs funded by producers and importers. The company is owned by a consortium that includes ÖES, Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), Hagar, Krónan, Samkaup, Vinbúð, Rio Tinto, SIS, and SIFEHR — spanning beverage producers, retailers, hospitality, and a global mining group — and operates as an independent private public limited company (hf.) headquartered in Garðabær.
Endurvinnslan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Endurvinnslan
- Legal name
- Endurvinnslan hf.
- Website
- https://endurvinnslan.is
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Endurvinnslan hf. operates Iceland's statutory nationwide deposit return system for single-use beverage containers, running 60 return facilities, automated counting machines, and a mobile app to refund 23 ISK per container to consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Endurvinnslan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Deposit Return System
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (5621)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Deposit Return System (DRS) / Bottle Bill Counting & Processing Centers (BPALADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE), Reusable Packaging & Container Return Programs (On-site) (BPABALAJ), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)
Keywords
Where Endurvinnslan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Garðabær
- HQ country
- Iceland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Endurvinnslan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Export of collected materials: Endurvinnslan sells collected drykkjarumbúðir (beverage containers) made of aluminium and plastic to overseas recyclers. Glass is collected and exported by ship to recycling facilities. Export value is approximately 250 million ISK per year.
- Disposal fee for non-deposit packaging: Endurvinnslan charges businesses a disposal fee for handling non-deposit beverage packaging received from producers, based on a published fee schedule (e.g., 1,600 ISK per crate for crate disposal, 3,200 ISK per box, 7,500 ISK per pallet).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard deposit refund per eligible container |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Business disposal fees for non-deposit packaging |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Endurvinnslan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Endurvinnslan hf. operates Iceland's nationwide deposit return system for single-use beverage containers, established by law nr. 52/1989 and regulation nr. 368/2000. The company coordinates container collection, sorting via automated counting machines, deposit refund payouts (23 ISK per container), and the resale/export of recovered aluminium, PET, and glass materials to recyclers. Services are delivered through ~60 return facilities, a mobile app, and self-service kiosks, achieving approximately 85–90% annual collection rates.
Product overview
Endurvinnslan operates Iceland's national deposit return system (skilagjald) for single-use beverage containers. The company offers a unified service ecosystem consisting of: (1) a mobile app for iOS and Android that enables QR code scanning and direct bank payouts, (2) self-service kiosks at return facilities for those without smartphones, (3) automated counting machines that sort and count containers using image analysis, and (4) a network of approximately 60 return facilities nationwide. The deposit fee is 23 ISK per container, applicable to plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminium cans for beverages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Endurvinnslan Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that allows consumers to scan QR codes on deposit receipts from counting machines and receive refund payouts directly to their bank accounts. Settlement requests are processed every 30 minutes. Available via the App Store (id6444868108) and Google Play (is.dk.endurvinnslan).
- Self-Service Payment Kiosks (Sjálfsafgreiðslukassar) Self-service payment kiosks located at return facilities that allow customers without smartphones to scan deposit receipts and receive 23 ISK refund per container via bank transfer. The company recommends the mobile app as a faster payout method.
- Automated Counting Machines (Talningavélar) Automated machines that sort and count beverage containers using image analysis technology. The machines differentiate aluminium cans, PET plastic bottles, and glass bottles, and are subject to weekly quality control testing. Installed at major return facilities across Iceland.
- Return Facilities Network (Móttökustöðvar) Nationwide network of approximately 60 return facilities across Iceland where consumers can deposit beverage containers and receive refunds. Major facilities (Knarrarvogur, Kóllunarklettsvegur, Dalvegur, Jafnasel, Hraunbær, Skútahraun, Selfoss, Reykjanes, Akureyri, Ánanaust, Breiðhella) feature automated counting machines and accept unsorted containers, while smaller facilities require sorting and counting.
- Non-Deposit Packaging Disposal Service Service for beverage producers and importers to dispose of non-deposit packaging waste through Endurvinnslan's facilities, charged at 1,600 ISK per crate, 3,200 ISK per box, 7,500 ISK per pallet, and 11 ISK per glass unit from domestic bottling (all prices exclude VAT, plus additional surcharges as applicable).
Quantifiable outcome
- ~85–90% of deposit-bearing beverage containers in Iceland are returned for recycling (historically ~85%, approaching 90% annually)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Endurvinnslan
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Endurvinnslan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Endurvinnslan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SORPAcoreSORPA (Sorpu Reykjavíkur) operates two co-branded return facilities for Endurvinnslan at Ánanaust and Breiðhella in the Reykjavík capital area, open daily 10:00–18:00. SORPA handles waste management for the greater Reykjavík area and serves as a key physical distribution channel for the deposit return system.
- Grænir skátar (Green Scouts Iceland)minorGrænir skátar is a youth volunteer organisation that assists Endurvinnslan with preparation and organisation of bottle and can collections. They offer organisations and groups the service of collecting, sorting, and counting deposit containers for a fee, and help organise large-scale collection drives.
- SamskipminorSamskip provides logistics and domestic transport services for Endurvinnslan's return facilities in Selfoss, Dalvík, and Egilsstaðir. Endurvinnslan return facilities are co-located with Samskip domestic shipping offices at these locations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Endurvinnslan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Veolia: Global waste-management and recycling major that handles beverage-container recycling as part of broader municipal and industrial contracts. Comparable to Endurvinnslan only at the materials-recovery layer, since Veolia does not operate a statutory DRS monopoly like Endurvinnslan.
- TOMRA: Norway-based global leader in reverse-vending machines and a participant in DRS operations across multiple markets. TOMRA is both a potential technology supplier to DRS operators like Endurvinnslan and a broad incumbent in the same space.
Direct peers
- PALPA: Finland's producer-responsibility organization managing beverage container recycling and reuse targets. Comparable to Endurvinnslan as a Northern European DRS administrator covering single-use beverage packaging.
- Re-turn: Ireland's national DRS operator, launched in 2024, with a mandate to manage deposit-return for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. Mirrors Endurvinnslan's producer-funded DRS model and Iceland's deposit-fee structure.
- Dansk Retursystem: Denmark's national DRS operator for beverage containers. Operates a producer-funded deposit-return scheme with automated return points and serves as a Nordic peer comparable to Endurvinnslan's Icelandic system.
- Infinitum: Operates Norway's national deposit-return system for beverage containers under a producer-responsibility mandate. Infinitum is the closest functional twin to Endurvinnslan, running a similar statutory DRS with automated counting and nationwide return points.
- RetuRO: Romania's national DRS administrator, set up in 2023 ahead of the country's mandatory DRS launch. Operates the same producer-funded deposit-return model for beverage containers as Endurvinnslan and is a direct peer for any technology or operational benchmarking.
- Returpack: Runs Sweden's Pantamera deposit-return system for PET and aluminium beverage containers. Operates under a producer-responsibility mandate similar to Endurvinnslan's Icelandic framework and is widely cited as a benchmark national DRS.
Emerging players
- Envipco: Reverse-vending machine manufacturer and DRS technology supplier serving North American and European programs. Adjacent to Endurvinnslan's automated counting machine stack, with partial overlap as both technology provider and operator-adjacent player.
Others
- SORPA: Reykjavík-area municipal waste-management company that operates two co-branded Endurvinnslan return facilities (Ánanaust and Breiðhella). SORPA is a distribution channel partner rather than a competitor, but is the most operationally comparable Icelandic waste-handling entity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Endurvinnslan social profiles
Digital presenceEndurvinnslan compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Endurvinnslan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Endurvinnslan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Endurvinnslan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Endurvinnslan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Endurvinnslan
What does Endurvinnslan do?
Endurvinnslan hf. operates Iceland's nationwide deposit return system for single-use beverage containers, established by law nr. 52/1989 and regulation nr. 368/2000. The company coordinates container collection, sorting via automated counting machines, deposit refund payouts (23 ISK per container), and the resale/export of recovered aluminium, PET, and glass materials to recyclers. Services are delivered through ~60 return facilities, a mobile app, and self-service kiosks, achieving approximately 85–90% annual collection rates.
Is Endurvinnslan a public or private company?
Endurvinnslan is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Endurvinnslan founded?
Endurvinnslan was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Endurvinnslan based?
Endurvinnslan is headquartered in Garðabær, Iceland, in the Europe region.
How does Endurvinnslan make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Export of collected materials are the primary driver. The others are disposal fee for non-deposit packaging.
Who are Endurvinnslan's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Veolia and TOMRA. Direct peers are PALPA, Re-turn, Dansk Retursystem, Infinitum, RetuRO and Returpack. Envipco is listed as an emerging player. SORPA is listed as an others.
Does Endurvinnslan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Endurvinnslan.
What industry is Endurvinnslan in?
Endurvinnslan's product category is Deposit Return System. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAK, Deposit Return System (DRS) / Bottle Bill Counting & Processing Centers, with a secondary code of EUAIANAE, Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops). Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 4953.