Advanced developments aimed at modernizing and improving the urban environment were showcased at the Expo Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, as part of the 25th International Universal Exhibition “White City Ashgabat.”
One of the environmentally focused exhibits at the event was a series of test models of robotic machines for the automatic collection and sorting of recyclable materials — reverse vending machines.
The new high-tech units, designed in signature green colors, were created for the automated collection of used plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass containers for their subsequent environmentally safe recycling. The primary goal of introducing such devices is to encourage separate waste collection among the population.
Instead of conventional disposal methods, the developers proposed a digital reward system. For each returned container, the reverse vending machine generates a receipt with a special barcode. Using this barcode, users can instantly credit eco-bonuses to their balance in the specially created mobile application EcoÄdim, developed as a demonstration prototype specifically to present the functionality of the reverse vending machines at the current exhibition. At this stage, the application serves as a visual demonstration of the loyalty system, while in the future accumulated points will be usable for convenient online payment of various public and commercial services.
Interaction with the robotic complex is intuitive and takes less than a minute. First, the user places a pre-cleaned bottle or can into a special intake slot. Built-in scanners and sensors instantly recognize the material and type of container, displaying confirmation of acceptance on the screen. After that, an internal mechanical press compresses the item to optimize storage space, while the screen displays the updated balance of earned eco-bonuses.
The exterior of each machine features a slogan stating that environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility, reminding city residents of the importance of personal contributions to preserving nature.
Numerous visitors and experts consistently note that Ashgabat is already considered one of the most well-maintained and cleanest cities. However, the introduction of reverse vending machines is intended to provide an even greater boost to the country’s environmental initiatives.
