FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- Dreams of a greener tomorrow can become a reality today with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's introduction of new recycling kiosks at Fort Huachuca, located in front of the Main Exchange, Main Gate Express, Mini Mall Express and the Express/Class Six stores.
The computerized kiosks recycle empty drink cans and plastic bottles into points people can redeem for select merchandise and discounts. They may even use their points to donate to charity.
Recycling at the kiosk is done by touching the screen, scanning a card, scanning the item's bar code and depositing acceptable items. Recyclers receive a printed receipt and can go online to view point totals and reward options. The recycling program is limited to white and clear plastic and aluminum cans, according to Scot Muzzy, branch manager of Fort Huachuca's Express/Class Six, located next to the post office.
Each recycled item is worth five points. Rewards, including tickets to local sporting events, travel deals and contributions to Keep America Beautiful, the Humane Society or Student Conservation Association, are available for as little as 100 points. Rewards range from dining, lodging and entertainment discounts for 100 points to a personal computer for 450,000 points.
Users can view the rewards offered in their area simply by entering a local zip code. All are from nationally recognized names such as Domino Pizza and located within the local community.
Once users have registered, they can track points in their own personal point-bank, which is linked to a Web-based reward catalog that provides offerings from more than 10,000 retail partners with 130,000 physical locations nationwide.
"Participating in Dream Machine recycling is a win-win for Exchange shoppers," said Colleen Murray, general manager, Fort Huachuca Exchange. "Recyclers get to contribute to a greener world. And signing in at the kiosks allows users to collect points and rewards for each recycled container.
"Our Dream Machines get a lot of use. AAFES gets nothing out of the program. It's simply something we offer to help the environment," Murray added.
Dream Machine kiosks represent an Exchange partnership with PepsiCo and Waste Management, Inc. Besides the kiosks at Fort Huachuca and other U.S. military installations, there are approximately 3,000 Dream Machines throughout the U.S., supplied by the Greenopolis Recycling System, which runs the program and offers the rewards. The program aims to increase recycling and help the environment, with the overall objective of increasing the U.S. beverage container recycle rate to 50 percent by 2018.
Dream Machine recycling also supports Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. EBV is a national program offered through seven leading business schools to aid post-911 veterans in starting small businesses. PepsiCo has committed to donating $500,000 a year to EBV, with additional support tied to total pounds recycled.
To learn more, go to www.shopmyexchange.com/DreamMachine.
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