Cal Poly gives students extra incentives to go green
POMONA - Getting a buck off a sandwich at Cal Poly Pomona can be as easy as recycling a couple of cans and bottles.
The university is now the home to two Internet-connected recycling Dream Machine kiosks that offer recyclers a chance to get rewards every time they decide to go green.
"I think just because of the technology, the students are really going to like it," said Paul Storey, executive director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation.
The university is now the home to two Internet-connected recycling Dream Machine kiosks that offer recyclers a chance to get rewards every time they decide to go green.
"I think just because of the technology, the students are really going to like it," said Paul Storey, executive director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation.
The large blue machines, similar in size and shape to a Red Box DVD rental, have a touchscreen display, a scanner and designated slots for bottles and cans.
Two of the three machines on campus - one in the Bronco Student Center and one at the Campus Center Marketplace - are operational. A third goes into service when the new Vista Cafe opens in September.
Cal Poly is the first university in the nation to house the Dream Machine kiosks, supported by a partnership between PepsiCo and Waste Management. The university's goal is to recycle 20,000 bottles and cans by December.
The recycling process begins when users register by entering their e-mail address and birthday. By doing this they will receive a rewards-type card that can be redeemed for discounts around the campus or for entertainment, dining and travel coupons.
Before depositing recyclables into the machine, each item's barcode must be scanned and recognized. Once all items are scanned and deposited, the machine gives users the option to print a receipt with account information and the number of points earned.
For students - that means the points earned translates into cents accumulated.
The recycling kiosks are just one of the many Green Campaign initiatives on the campus, said Edwin Santiago, director of marketing for the Foundation.
"It's all geared to being environmentally conscious. It's not just about recycling things but educating students to get into the habit of it," he said.
The campus utilizes reusable plates and flatware and 100 percent unbleached napkins. It is striving to implement sustainable practices on campus by reducing waste, providing organic food wherever possible and reducing emissions and energy use.
Starting in the fall points can be redeemed for discounts around campus or for entertainment at Greenopolis.com. Each point equals one cent of CRV.
The university does not profit from the machines, but for every bottle or can recycled, PepsiCo will make a donation to the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, a national program offering free, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities.
The Dream Machine program launched on Earth Day 2010.
Learn more about the Dream Machine at www.facebook.com/DreamMachine
Two of the three machines on campus - one in the Bronco Student Center and one at the Campus Center Marketplace - are operational. A third goes into service when the new Vista Cafe opens in September.
Cal Poly is the first university in the nation to house the Dream Machine kiosks, supported by a partnership between PepsiCo and Waste Management. The university's goal is to recycle 20,000 bottles and cans by December.
The recycling process begins when users register by entering their e-mail address and birthday. By doing this they will receive a rewards-type card that can be redeemed for discounts around the campus or for entertainment, dining and travel coupons.
Before depositing recyclables into the machine, each item's barcode must be scanned and recognized. Once all items are scanned and deposited, the machine gives users the option to print a receipt with account information and the number of points earned.
For students - that means the points earned translates into cents accumulated.
The recycling kiosks are just one of the many Green Campaign initiatives on the campus, said Edwin Santiago, director of marketing for the Foundation.
"It's all geared to being environmentally conscious. It's not just about recycling things but educating students to get into the habit of it," he said.
The campus utilizes reusable plates and flatware and 100 percent unbleached napkins. It is striving to implement sustainable practices on campus by reducing waste, providing organic food wherever possible and reducing emissions and energy use.
Starting in the fall points can be redeemed for discounts around campus or for entertainment at Greenopolis.com. Each point equals one cent of CRV.
The university does not profit from the machines, but for every bottle or can recycled, PepsiCo will make a donation to the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, a national program offering free, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities.
The Dream Machine program launched on Earth Day 2010.
Learn more about the Dream Machine at www.facebook.com/DreamMachine
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