Got some spare time and want to invent something you could make a million on? Here’s my idea:
We’ve all seen the vending machines in supermarkets that allow you to refill big 3-5 gallon bottles of water and some even refill the smaller 1-5 liter size, but how about a vending machine that not only sells filled, reusable water bottles like a soda vending machine, but refills the ones you’ve already bought with fresh, pure, great tasting water?
The bottles could be of a solid, reusable plastic like Nalgene that have an attached screw on lid. They could be custom branded for the institution (school) in which the machine is placed with a portion of the proceeds returned as a “fund raiser”. Of course the bottles need to be small like a pint or quart size for the backpack and desk.
It’s a great idea because not only are you providing safe, healthy water (instead of the soda machines in most schools) and cool customized bottles that only cost pennies to refill, but by reusing the bottles instead of disposing of them you’re cutting waste significantly.
I could see them being placed in schools, gyms, churches, gas stations, police departments, hospitals – anywhere normally serviced by a soda machine.
You could probably also sell “drink packets” and have the machine “steam wash” the bottle before it’s refilled.
Pretty cool. Feel free to steal my idea.
Can’t you just refill the bottle with tap water? Safe and virtually FREE! (Well, at least for a little bit longer…Southern California is looking at increases of up to 40% on their water bills.)
Ah yes, that was the idea. Refill rather than buy a new bottle from a vending machine. These would take the place of soda machines in schools and what not. Much healthier, less expensive for students and then they can fill the bottles at home. Honestly though, I wouldn’t drink the tap water in our town. Even though it’s “safe” by EPA standards it smells really strong of chlorine and leaves your skin red and your hair dry after showering.
A Better Bottled Drink Dispenser?…
photo credit: Etwood
Loyd Schutte has described an interesting idea on the Resource Action Program’s Green Living blog:
We’ve all seen the vending machines in supermarkets that allow you to refill big 3-5 gallon bottles of water and some e…
Such a machine does exist and we just received our first shipment this morning. Once we do our own internal product testing we will begin our marketing/promotional campaign.
In short, the product is designed to do exactly as Lloyd describes. It accepts your own reusable water container or has a drop down cup dispenser we will fill with biodegradable corn-based plastic cups.
If interested please drop me an e-mail and I’ll forward you information on this innovative green oriented vending machine.
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I truly appreciate you taking the time to share this . Look forward to more posts from you. Cheers
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