Pop, clunk, your can's recycled

Pop, clunk, your can's recycled

POP a used plastic bottle into these reverse vending machines at the Clean and Green carnival this weekend, and you get a lucky draw coupon to win prizes such as refrigerators and air-conditioners.

But pranksters beware, these recycling machines are smart enough to reject foreign items or bottles which are still full.

Three of these machines will make their debut here on Friday and have been programmed to take in only aluminium or steel cans, as well as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles commonly used for drinks. Other items will be rejected and ejected through an opening.

These machines are able to recognise the items by their material, weight and even barcode. And when an item is accepted, a ticket will be dispensed and the bottle or can is then compacted within the machine.

While such contraptions are more commonly found in countries such as Japan and the United States, they are believed to be the first in South-east Asia, said director of Recycle Management Enterprise Rudy Fang, who brought in the machines.

He hopes organisations such as schools, shopping malls and private companies will bring in more of these machines, which cost between $30,000 and $60,000, to make recycling 'more fun' and to encourage a recycling culture.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_447131.html