NSU partners with PepsiCo for Dream Machine recycling program

BROKEN ARROW - Students returning to Northeastern State University Broken Arrow for the spring semester will soon have access to the PepsiCo Recycling Dream Machine Program.

The Dream Machine recycling kiosk and bins will provide students, faculty, staff and visitors a convenient approach to recycling aluminum cans and plastic bottles while on campus.

The program is part of the universitys sustainability efforts that encourage innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint of northeastern Oklahoma.

Im really pleased we have partner with PepsiCo to offer this recycling program, said Dr. Christee Jenlink, dean of NSUBA. Our students, faculty and staff have long desired to be able to recycle service on campus.

Located in the Administrative Services Building near the Visitor Center Gallery, the Dream Machine allows participants to earn points for every bottle or can recycled in the kiosk. These points can be saved and redeemed for discounts on local dining, entertainment and travel.

One Dream Machine is currently running at both the Broken Arrow and Muskogee campuses; several recycling bins have been placed throughout both campuses.

In addition to providing environmental benefit and sustainability, the more bottles and cans people recycle in Dream Machines, the more support PepsiCo will provide to the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, a national program offering free, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans.

Providing access to recycling bins is a critical first step in increasing the beverage container recycling rate, said Jeremy Cage, PepsiCos head of the Dream Machine recycling initiative. By recycling in Dream Machines, students and faculty can be proud that their efforts are helping make a real difference for our planet and in the lives of U.S. veterans.

Users simply scan the containers to be recycled, and dispense them into the appropriate drop area. A receipt acknowledges the participant and issues points for items received.

Experience tells us that people are much more likely to recycle if its convenient, and they are rewarded for doing so, said Paul Ligon, managing director for Greenopolis, a Waste Management subsidiary. We look forward to working with Northeastern State University to provide their community with a recycling experience that is fun and rewarding on many levels.