Facility Blog is reporting that a new type of vending machine is being manufactured by Tomra Systems ASA that reverses the traditional vending concept.

The machine is meant to encourage recycling in facilities such as health care facilities, large offices, educational institutions and other organizations that typically generate a lot of waste.  The UNO is essentially a vending machine in reverse.  The user inserts recyclable material such as aluminum cans, glass bottles or other containers into the machine.  The vending machine will then sort the items by container type.

Additionally, the machine can be set up to encourage recycling by printing coupons for discounts when a user recycles something in the machine.

The UNO is meant to be an improvement over a traditional recycling bin that can generate waste or unwanted bugs.

Although there are some facilities using the machines, a couple Dunkin Donuts locations and a hospital in New Haven, CT, it’s our opinion that we probably will not see a large number of these machines since they likely cost thousands of dollars.  It’s pretty hard to justify the expense when a regular recycling receptacle cost closer to $30.

Just for fun, below is a list of the top five videos featuring vending machines that we have compiled here at Vending Solutions.  Most of the videos were found via our twitter account (follow us @VendingSolution).   There are a variety of machines in the videos including a Coke machine, Pepsi machine, crane machine, finger print reading machine, and also a bottled water machine (I would not recommend drinking any of the bottles of water though!)

Thankfully none of the machines in these videos were placed at any of our clients’ locations!

Here are the videos in no particular order:

1.  This first video shows a poor Coke machine being dragged down the highway while being chased by the police!

2.  This next video shows a little girl climbing all the way inside of a crane amusement machine! 

3.  Here is a Pepsi machine that has more than soda products inside! 

4.  Here is a soda vending machine where you can buy a soda simply by placing your hand on it!

5.  This clip is from a UNICEF campaign to raise awareness about drinking water quality in developing countries.

Bonus Video!  In case you missed this crazy Coke machine in our previous post, here it is again!

These are a few vending videos that we found.  Does anyone else have other funny, strange or neat videos that we may have missed?

AvioNews is reporting that European airline, Ryanair, will be installing vending machines on its airplanes to cut the number of flight attendants on each flight from four to two.  Ryanair will install the vending machines in phases starting in June of this year.

Some of the products expected in the machines are smokeless cigarettes, hot and cold beverages, snacks, sandwiches, ice-cream and even condoms. 

Click here for full article.

Vending Machine in Airplanes!