Vending machines turn trash into treasure

Everyone is familiar with the vending machine that spits out a can of coke or a bag of Skittles.

However, if you like cold, hard cash better than the cold, hard candy, here is another dispenser you might be interested in - the Reverse Vending Machine, which rewards users coins in exchange for their empty plastic bottles.


Ten such machines, the size of big refrigerators, are expected to appear at major subways and bus stops within the Fourth Ring Road of the capital by the end of July, turning trash into treasure while encouraging the public to recycle and sort garbage.

Two thousand of them will be in place within the next two years, including 80 at colleges and universities, shopping malls, communities and office buildings, according to Chang Tao, director of INCOM, the producer of the machines.

"You get rewarded for recycling," said Chang. "People can also have the money donated if they wish."

The process starts with consumers casting their empties in the dispensers' feed unit. Plastic containers are identified by an imaging camera, compacted to less than one-third of the size and sorted into a built-in bin. The users can then get their monetary reward by scanning their metro card to the machine.

Widespread use of the vending machines could greatly encourage the public to sort trash and save natural resources, said experts.

"Despite the government's efforts in encouraging trash sorting, it has been poorly conducted in the city," said Chen Liwen, researcher with the Green Beagle, an environmental protection organization in the capital. "However, with monetary incentives, I guess the public will feel more motivated to do so."