[OKC] Tropicana Field is a first for recycling program

[Miles, Karen]

Tropicana Field is a first for recycling program

By Mark Albright <http://www.tampabay.com/writers/mark-albright> , Times Staff Writer 
In Print: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 
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Tampa Bay Rays catcher John Jaso records a scoreboard video for the promotion of Pepsi and Waste Management’s Dream Machines at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday. The Rays’ Sean Rodriguez also filmed a video.
 
	[DIRK SHADD | Times]
Consumers who today snare reward points for just about anything can now rack up points for recycling. 
Five Pepsi Dream Machine recycling kiosks have been wheeled into Tropicana Field, the first of many big league sports stadiums to be outfitted with machines that cough up instant coupons and tally reward points when fans stuff in empty cans and plastic bottles. 
It's part of a partnership between Pepsico, Keep America Beautiful and Greenopolis, a unit of Waste Management Inc. that invented a vending machine that dishes out reward points. First-timers get a small card for identification after registering online to create their rewards account. 
So far the partners have deployed more than 300 machines at supermarkets and drugstores in other states. But plans call for 3,000 more in malls, on college grounds and at other public gathering places within 18 months. 
The machines take most commonly found plastic drinking bottles or any aluminum can. They hold 500 empties. So introducing them at Major League Baseball games is really more about creating exposure for rewards points as a recycling enticement before more machines appear. 
Rewards are typically discounts used as a form of advertising by restaurants, theme parks, movies and other local services. 
The beverage industry is under pressure to do something about the proliferation of empty drink containers. Four decades after aluminum cans and plastic bottles first swept into common use, the recycling statistics remain troubling: 
Article continues at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/tropicana-field-is-a-first-for-recycling-program/1111237

[Last modified: Jul 27, 2010 02:11 PM] 

Copyright 2010 St. Petersburg Times
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