Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for redeeming returnable containers inserted by a customer. Each returnable container has a longitudinal axis and uniform product code data on an external peripheral surface. The apparatus includes a conveying device for transporting individual containers from a first location for customer insertion to a second location for selective container ejection and a third location for selective container shredding. A spinning device imparts rotation to the individual containers while passing between the first and second locations, preferably causing the uniform product code data to travel in a helical path for multiple reads by a scanning device prior to reaching the second location. The scanning device sends an output signal to a central processing unit for processing in accordance with a control program stored in memory.