The Dream Machine:

The concept of earning rewards for recycling is not a new one. For years, collecting cans and bottles to turn in to monetary recycling reward machines has been a way for people to earn a little bit of money. However, now PepsiCo is trying out a new rewards system-one where many more people enjoy benefits. In fact, through PepsiCo's Dream Machine recycling program, participants enjoy the benefits of recycling through earning "points" that can be redeemed in the form of various reward certificates, the earth enjoys the benefits of the green practice of recycling, and United States veterans are offered opportunities for entrepreneurship training through the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV).

The Dream Machine program began on Earth Day 2010, and currently there are thousands of Dream Machine Locations throughout America. North Carolina leads the country in the number of Dream Machines, but several other states are catching on to the wave, with Dream Machines popping up on campuses across the country from Oral Roberts University (in Tulsa, Oklahoma) to California State Polytechnic University (in Pomona, California). The ultimate goal behind the Dream Machine is similar to that of traditional recycling encouragement programs: providing people with convenient recycling locations that provide participants with rewards to encourage them to keep recycling. However, the Dream Machine is more appealing to consumers for several reasons: instead of the monetary (and usually small change) reward that most consumers find themselves with after turnings in a year's worth of cans, the Dream Machine rewards are based through an accumulative points system. Participants are able to benefit from the program one can at a time just by swiping their Dream Machine identification cards before depositing their cans and bottles. Because the program doesn't offer instant rewards, participants are able to continue recycling their cans and bottles throughout the year until they actually have accumulated enough points to earn a desired reward-worth much more than a handful of loose change.

Additionally, supporting the Dream Machine means supporting programs that assist United States' Veterans with more employment opportunities through entrepreneurship training. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is a quality program that offers entrepreneurship and small business management training for post 9/11 veterans-for no cost to the veterans themselves. This business program is a great way for veterans to gain valuable and practical business skills that can assist them with the transition into post-military life.

Through the Dream Machine, consumers now have a convenient way to encourage themselves to recycle and help the earth. At the same time, however, they also have a great opportunity to partner with an organization that supports their veterans. PepsiCo's Dream Machine really offers everyone a "win-win" situation.