'Reverse' Vending Machine Rewards Recycling

[Guest]

PepsiCo's marketing drive at least promises to help the Earth

'Reverse' Vending Machine Rewards Recycling : Read more

 

[sliem]

I wouldn't call it dream machine, it's got nothing to do with dreams or dreaming.

 

[megamanx00]

Cool

 

[klavis]

Not really caring about this. Here in Oregon we pay a deposit, we recycle, and we get our money back. Something like this won't really matter. I guess maybe for water bottles, although our state is trying to include those in the deposit program as well.

 

[jossrik]

I've seen other recycling machines that just give you the deposit back. Not sure how revolutionary this is except that you can only get rewards items instead of anything you can buy with money. Does this work on non deposit cans and bottles? Then it's pretty kewl.

 

[TunaSoda]

Another Pepsi product to stay away from

 

[dgingeri]

In Aurora Colorado, there is a machine like this already, but it pays in actual money, and is just for aluminum. Last time I went over there, I got $5 for 7 full bags of cans. It was kind of a pain to unload, as it takes in single cans and not full bags, but it works ok.

I'd rather have real cash than some points redeemable for more trash.

 

[schwiing]

"Dream Machine"? Sounds like an apple product.

 

[jn77]

We got cash back where I use to live 5 cents or 10 cents per can, this points system is such a waste

 

[chaosgs]

Wow just a decade behind the competition. I have had a aluminum can recycle since about 1995 maybe even later. You push a button, throw all your cans in a hole and you get Quarters based on how many pounds of aluminum you gave. The few dollars you get is not worth the trouble of storing cans for 2-4 weeks.

 

[grieve]

[citation][nom]klavis[/nom]Not really caring about this. Here in Oregon we pay a deposit, we recycle, and we get our money back. Something like this won't really matter. I guess maybe for water bottles, although our state is trying to include those in the deposit program as well.[/citation]
I live in Canada, we also have a Recycle program... in fact i don't know anyone who doesn't recycle there beer/pop cans.

Last summer we saved our cans and bottles from 2 months @ the lake and returned it for over $250. I could not imagine scanning each can into this machine! we had 1000's

Cudo's for trying to make a difference but the machine only holds 300 cans! thats 12 flats only.... the first person @ the bottle depot will have more then 12 flats.

 

[Clintonio]

[citation][nom]schwiing[/nom]"Dream Machine"? Sounds like an apple product.[/citation]
Nah, sounds like Apple marketing. Apple tends to need an iBeforeTheProductName.

 

[gbismack]

This looks like a modified bin that we have at every supermarket here in Michigan, for our 10 cent refund.

300 cans is 1-2 people returning cans from home, and will fill up in no time.

 

[Guest]

The point of these thigns is to help make recycling easier for the uninitiated by placing a machine right in front of your face. For those states near large bodies of water, take Michigan for example, they want to reduce the amount of highly recyclable materials, like cans and bottles. It's not all about the money, although I wish more states DID increase the deposit to 10 cents per can, and had deposit machines in stores, then it would be worth time to recycle.

 

[yzfr1guy]

Dream Machine = Maximum PC ub3r rig!!

I think this recycle machine will expend about as much energy in power then it's worth to recycle a few cans. Another worthless idea for big company tax write offs in an effort for a Greener Country. A true green effort would be to legalize marijuana!!!

 

[Userremoved]

These things have been in Quebec (Canada) for years I don't see whats special with them.

 

[hellwig]

Can deposit programs are scams. I grew up in a state without can deposits. Growing up, I always thought that you just got 5 or 10 cents back for the can. Not until I moved to a state with deposits did I realize that you actually paid the deposit to the store when you purchased the product. Yeah, they collect 5 or 10 cents for each can and bottle from you. You have to redeem the cans to get your own money back!

If they just made recycling easier, more people would do it. My home-state has curb-side recycling. You throw all your cans and plastics into a single bag, they collect it every week like the garbage, and they sort it at the recycling center. That's a hell of a lot easier than charging me 10 cents that I then have to redeem by feeding individual cans into the machine at the store.

 

[orionite]

These have existed in Germany for years. As there is a deposit for each can/bottle you buy, everyone brings them back to the store to get the deposit back.
So, they are not "Scam", they are a way to encourage people to actually recycle. Unfortunately, people don't usually care, until it hits their wallet.

 

[WheelsOfConfusion]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Can deposit programs are scams. ... Not until I moved to a state with deposits did I realize that you actually paid the deposit to the store when you purchased the product.[/citation]
Well yeah, that's what "deposit" means.

Not sure this particular design is so hot, though. Only 300 cans? I could fit more than that into a small trash bag. Is there a reason they didn't incorporate a can crusher?

 

[smashley]

I'm guessing this is intended for people just out and no recycle-bins are close by, to encourage recycling rather than throwing it away. With a capacity of only 300 cans this is clearly not intended for people who save up their cans/bottles for a few weeks/months and then fill up the station to get some points.
I'll agree with the poster above that the energy this machine consumes likely causes more damage to the environment (at least if it runs from fossil fueled power plants) than recycling a few cans would off-set.