Reverse Vending Machine

Drop in a few coins. Get a can of soda. This has been a pretty standard formula for vending machines for a long time.

Now, reverse it. Take your empty can to a vending machine, and drop it in. Get rewarded.



That’s the idea behind a new reverse vending machine designed to promote recycling by making it more convenient. These “Dream Machines,” launched by PepsiCo and Waste Management, will be placed in high-traffic areas, such as gas stations and stadiums.

Each time a container is recycled at one of these machines, the consumer will earn redeemable points from Greenopolis. These points can be used for various prizes, including coupons and discounts.

For those who aren’t that excited about collecting the points, there is another incentive. As an added bonus, PepsiCo will also be donating to a charity for each container recycled.

The ultimate goal of this program is to increase beverage container recycling to 50% by 2018.

In case you’re wondering, these machines will accept cans from any soft drink company. It’s not restricted to Pepsi products.

These machines have been met with a few criticisms though. For one, they can only store about 300 containers, so there is some concern that they will fill up too fast. Another concern is that the points system will not be an effective incentive, especially in places where cans and bottles can be returned for cash.

One thing is for sure, they will encourage discussion about recycling and the environment. Be on the lookout for these “Dream Machines,” and we will see what they can do.

Watch this video for a walkthrough of how it works.