Reduce / Reuse / Recycle

August 16, 2006

 

New Vending Machines Accepting Donations, Bring-Your-Own Cups

Keywords: Eco-business / Social Venture Local government NGO / Citizen Reduce / Reuse / Recycle University / Research institute 

A vending machine that accepts donations, the first of its kind in Japan, made its debut on the Tohoku Fukushi University campus in Miyagi Prefecture on April 26, 2006. Above the coin slot are two "donation buttons": one for a 10-yen donation and the other for a 100-yen donation. After buying a drink, consumers can push the buttons to make a donation. The amount of money will be taken from the change. They can also donate without buying a drink, or buy a drink without making a donation.

After counting by Miyagi Heartful Vender, a non-profit organization in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, which developed the machine, the money will be donated to the Miyagi prefectural branch of the Central Community Chest of Japan. Beverage manufacturers, management organizations and facilities installing the machines will also make donations according to their proceeds.

Meanwhile, on April 25, 2006, the Shiga Prefectural Office installed another type of new machine that allows consumers to use their own cups when they purchase drinks. Among national and local governments, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Shizuoka Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture have already introduced such machines, and Shiga is the first to do so in western Japan.

The use of one's own cup results in a 10-yen discount, but conventional paper cups are also available. The Shiga Prefectural Office expects to reduce the amount of waste by about 144 kilograms a year by cutting the use of paper cups.


- Trade Ministry Tests "Bring Your Own" Cup Vending Machine (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1278-e

Posted: 2006/08/16 10:02:04 AM
Japanese version

 

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