New machines on USF’s Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses are aiming to reverse-recycle plastic and aluminum to benefit USF’s Feed-A Bull Pantry. Instead of dispensing drinks, they ask for empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
The reverse vending machines (RVM) are supported by Coke Florida and The Coca-Cola Company, who have agreed to donate 5 cents for each aluminum can or plastic bottle that has been collected. Meaning, the pantry can make up to $5,000 per year with just recycling. The vision is to create a sustainable environment and combat food insecurities all at the same time.
The machines allow people to recycle cans and plastic bottles simply by popping them into the vending machine, regardless of the brand. the machine will then evaluate if the item meets the requirements and, if accepted, it will crush it and store it inside.
“Hopefully, by having reverse vending machines across our campuses [will] make it more known that we have a food pantry, No. 1,” said Jillian Wilson, USF student body vice president. “No. 2, it’s normal to use a food pantry and get help when you need help.”
In this year alone, researchers estimate, the global production and incineration of plastic will pump more than 850 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia. By 2050, those emissions could rise up to 2.8 billion tons. In reality, plastic is slowly killing our planet.
“Climate change is something we are all battling worldwide,” Wilson said. “So by implementing this reverse vending machine program, all of us are learning to recycle in a way it does not add to landfills and it also benefits the USF community.”
Credits
Reporter: McKenzie Muskett
Anchor: Julianna Jung
Show Editor: Alice Barlow
Producer: Victoria Crosdale
Web Editor: Arianna McQueen
