Cups are printed with a unique QRcode or similar (no extra manufacturing costs) - and cost the coffee consumer a small extra fee (eg 25c).
Collection machines (like reverse vending machines) are placed near stores and bus stops etc. The machines accept the empty cups, read the code and return to the collector a voucher for (eg) 20c or credit on a collector card for the full subsidy (eg 25c) - effectively meaning that the customer "doing-the-right-thing" by returning the cup pays no extra for the program.
Why use a machine?
- Rewards can be claimed 24/7
- Doesn't delay counter staff
- No stigma associated with collecting rewards.
Why dispense vouchers or card value?
- No money in machine reduces likelihood of vandalism
- Value may only be redeemable at participating stores - encouraging repeat custom.
- Rewards could be customised to particular stores/areas to encourage repeat custom and/or encourage rewards to be used on eg healthy food (rather than alcohol etc) or could even dispense eg rail/metro tickets.
- Higher-value returns on a reusable card means less single-use paper vouchers are dispensed and therefore the machines need less attention in re-stocking etc
- Reduces likelihood of user trying to scam the machine
Why use a code?
- codes can simply be printed during the normal production process - negligible increase in production cost.
- individual codes can track the success of the program by monitoring where cups are returned etc
- Individual codes reduce the chance of the system being hacked with forged cups
- Enables cups to only be returned 'once' (there's no point breaking the machine to steal already-returned cups)
- introducing a random element - eg where random cups return higher value ($1, $100 or maybe even $1000) introduces a strong emotional incentive to participate that is also fun.
- Customers are far more likely to participate if there is a chance that their cup could return $100 or more.
- This random element is easily subsidised by the many thousands of returned cups that only return the minimum (eg 20c) reward and those that aren't returned (but for which the customer paid a (eg 25c) subsidy
- Along with the usual reward, it would be possible to offer that (eg) one in every 10 cups wins a coffee: particularly as it only costs Starbucks the wholesale (not retail) amount - however, I'd prefer that the machine gives store credit or food vouchers so that homeless people, kids (or anyone) collecting cups are able to claim non-coffee sustenance.
- Each cup costs the consumer 25c extra upfront, but they get that 25c back if they return the cup: so effectively it costs nothing for recyclers and 25c for non-recyclers: (it is actually the wasteful non-recyclers that subsidise the whole scheme : they are spending 25c extra and not claiming it back). …that 25c X millions of customers would pay for the vending machines and the ability to offer random bonus prizes of big money. The odds would probably support that for every 100 cups wasted you could offer a single $15 random reward and still pay for the machines and regular payouts– and across the US you’d be talking hundreds of thousands (or millions) of cups a day.
- It costs the recycling user no extra.
- It costs the non-recycling user only a fraction more
- It costs providers very little (or nothing if creatively marketed and/or based on return vs. subsidy rate)
- The users that don't recycle are effectively subsidizing a scheme that can clean up the city, provide food for the homeless and encourage recycling all at once.
- Is fun to participate in
- Could easily be adapted to accept other (non-coffee-cup) items such as bottles, cans, etc and therefore keep the streets even cleaner and encourage more recycling
- Could easily be adapted to return different beneficial rewards (food stamps, book vouchers, phone credit, train tickets, itunes credit etc) and therefore appeal to a wide variety of sponsors.
- Doesn't rely on users remembering to travel with a cup
- Doesn't even rely on coffee drinkers to have a beneficial impact (ie, students/homeless/anyone has an incentive to participate)
- Doesn't rely on new production methods
Useful?
Robhoski
If recycling does get big, we would need machines to handle to materials so this is good thinking.
Useful?
klbarkan
Useful?
cuptokeep
But like the idea as a way to make people want to recycle, and your idea could easily be applied on other products ie bottles and cans as well, good work!
Useful?
rjacoby jury (contest)
Useful?
omaroyoun
Useful?
beezie
Also, we all love a game of chance, but if you can't play when you bring your own cup, what's the incentive to do that?
Useful?
beezie
not in necessarily in favour of self promotion in other people's comment streams, but for the sake of argument, i've been trying to capture that idea here: http://www.jovoto.com/contests/drink-sustainably/ideas/5212
Useful?
fischerwest idea owner
Useful?
AaronnLevine
I guess you could easily have a few versions of the machines to account for the different coffee cup sizes.
Just trying to think of the typical customer who uses a disposable instead of a mug or thermus. Basically it relies on that customer to remember to bring back the empty cup )or dispose of it in a way that would enable someone else to take it back- like a kid or homeless person). Your prize incentive would need to be good enough for them to bother to do that.
If you can create an incentive good enough to make that customer bother to bring the cup back, then it wouldn't be such a big leap to try to get that customer to re-use a cup would it?
Good luck! I've given you a good vote!
Useful?
SLane