Green Corner: Pepsi Dream Machine keeps recycling up with rewards

Unlike what Kermit the Frog always says, it is easy being green, and The Office of Sustainability is always looking for innovative solutions to encourage eco-friendly behavior amongst students, faculty and staff.

The Dream Machine is a recycling center that rewards points for each bottle or can that is recycled by a user. Collected points are then gathered in a free account and can be later redeemed for valuable coupons and prizes. From the first day the Dream Machine was introduced on both the Lawrenceville and Westminster campuses, it was a roaring success; in fact, in 2012 Rider University was named one of the top 10 performing Dream Machine kiosks in the nation.

For the new 2013-14 school year, Pepsi has updated and upgraded the Dream Machine to make the process even more seamless, fun and worth every bottle. Partnering with The Entertainment Coupon Book Company, members can now redeem points for coupons to local businesses. By disposing bottles in the Dream Machine that you would regularly toss in the recycling can, you can earn a free movie ticket or a significant discount on that new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing up. Also, a new national leaderboard for colleges and universities will be available online to show the most active Dream Machine schools. Finally, Pepsi will continue to develop promotions and programs throughout the year on their webpage: PepsiCoRecycling.com.

Since the arrival of the Dream Machine, the Rider community, along with PepsiCo, has helped contribute to many great achievements. According to PepsiCoRecycling.com, in 2010, Pepsi set a goal to increase the beverage industry container-recycling rate from 34% to 50% by 2018. Since rolling out the Dream Machine program, rates have already increased to 41%. With the contribution of the Rider community and recyclers throughout the country, Pepsi has pledged to donate to the disabled veteran education program, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. Since 2010, Pepsi has given $1.5 million to help our veterans.

With all of the new improvements and good deeds that the Dream Machine is bringing about this school year, there’s no telling what can happen. Be sure to hurry to the SRC and sign up for a PepsiCo Recycling account so you can get started. If you already have one, fill up your reusable bag with empty bottles and redeem those points for some fantastic new deals. But above all, as you feed each bottle into the Dream Machine, remember the good that you’re doing for the community and for the Earth.

-Stephanie Eppolito,

Lawrenceville Eco-Rep