Launch of “UEH Green Campus - i Ve Chai Machine” (Ai Ve Chai Hong?) – The Automated Recyclable Collection Machine at UEH Green Campus

With the goal of promoting a recycling waste circularity within the university campus and raising awareness concerning waste sorting behavior at the source among students, staff, and learners, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has collaborated with Botol Vietnam Co., Ltd. to launch the “i Ve Chai Machine” (Ai ve chai hong?) - an automatic recycling machine that accepts plastic bottles and aluminum cans within the green campus.

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UEHGC - I VE CHAI MACHINE  

The Automated Recyclable Collection Machine

Drink water - Discard bottle, can - Scan "i Ve Chai" - Get points, prizes, and money immediately.  

The automatic bottle and can redemption machine - "I Ve Chai Machine" (Ai ve chai hong?) located at UEH, also known as the “Recycling Machine” (Reverse Vending Machine - RVM), is used to collect types of plastic bottles and aluminum cans at the source. It then sorts and crushes them into small pieces on-site, shortening the conversion process from discarded bottles to new bottles from 11 traditional steps to only 3 steps. In addition, for each bottle or can collected by the machine, users will earn points on the BOTOL app based on the quantity, which can be exchanged for cash that can be withdrawn to Zalo Pay or VNPAY wallets, along with lucky draw programs to receive attractive prizes.

HOW WILL PLASTIC BOTTLES AND ALUMINUM CANS BE PROCESSED?

1. Plastic bottles Aluminum cans

2. "i Ve Chai" Machine (Ai ve chai hong?)

3. Crushed into small pieces

4. Collection partners

5. Recycling company

6. Recycled plastic particles - Aluminum alloy

 

1. Put plastic bottles and aluminum cans into the machine.

Please ensure that the bottle:

• Is free of any liquid inside

• Is not crushed or deformed

• Has the original label and barcode intact on the body of the bottle/can

 

2. Play the "Lucky Wheel"

For each bottle/can deposited in the machine, you will have a chance to receive from 1,000 to 200,000 VND to your ZaloPay or VNPAY wallet.

Download the Botol app

 

3. Enter your phone number to accumulate "Coins"

With the total number of Coins you accumulate after each bottle/can deposit, you can withdraw money to your wallet or exchange for vouchers to use.

 

4. Exchange Coins for wallet funds or vouchers

With the total number of coins you accumulate after each time you dispose of a bottle/can, you can withdraw money to your wallet or exchange it for vouchers to use.

 

CIRCULAR MODEL FOR PLASTIC BOTTLES AND ALUMINUM CANS AT UEH

The emergence of “i Ve Chai Machine” (Ai ve chai hong?) is a new step in the application of technology in the closed-loop recycling waste management system at UEH.

Recognizing the situation where a large amount of plastic bottles and cans are not properly sorted and end their life cycle in landfills, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) collaborated with Botol Vietnam Co., Ltd. - the sole member of the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) - to launch an automatic recycling machine placed at facilities aimed at the goal of recycling 100% of plastic bottles and cans generated from the UEH campus.

Representatives from Botol introduced the “i Ve Chai Machine” during its launch.  

The special name “i Ve Chai Machine” is inspired by the characteristic call of the scrap collectors: “Ai ve chai hong?” (Who wants to sell scraps?) which is closely tied to the lives and memories of many people. Born with this tender name, the “i Ve Chai Machine” is expected to be a scrap collection device that brings a sense of familiarity and closeness to users, akin to how the scrap collectors diligently gather each plastic bottle and aluminum can every day. Additionally, the letter “i” stands for “intelligent,” symbolizing the innovation and technological development applied in the machine for collecting and processing plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  

Not merely a storage space for plastic bottles and aluminum cans awaiting transport, the “i Ve Chai Machine” - or also called the “Recycling Machine” (Reverse Vending Machine - RVM) - functions as a mini-factory with mechanical processing capabilities. After receiving plastic bottles or aluminum cans, the machine will sort and crush the products on-site, shortening the conversion process from waste bottles to new bottles from the traditional 11 steps down to just 3 steps. This not only increases storage space and minimizes emissions during the transfer of products to the factory but also saves electricity, water, and reduces emissions by eliminating many stages compared to traditional methods.

Automatic recycling machine with labeling for classified bottle/can shells after crushing.

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HOW WILL PLASTIC BOTTLES BE PROCESSED?

1. Plastic bottles 

2. "i Ve Chai" Machine (Ai ve chai hong?)

3. Being crushed into small pieces

4. Collection partners

5. Recycling company

6. Recycling plastic particles 

HOW WILL ALUMINUM CANS BE PROCESSED?

1. Aluminum cans

2. "i Ve Chai" Machine (Ai ve chai hong?)

3. Being crushed into small pieces

4. Collection partners

5. Recycling company

6. Aluminum alloy

Scan the code to experience

In addition, for each bottle or can collected by the recycling machine, users will earn points in the BOTOL app based on the quantity, which can be converted into cash that can be withdrawn to Zalo Pay or VNPay wallets, along with lucky draw programs to receive attractive prizes.

Students participated in a lucky spin after plastic bottles/aluminum cans were collected.  

The process of raising awareness among UEHers related to waste segregation at the source.  

Recently, the launch event of the "i Ve Chai Machine" (Ai ve chai hong?) was held on August 5, 2024, at Campus B and on August 6, 2024, at Campus N, with the participation of a large number of students, faculty, and learners. UEHers not only had the opportunity to experience the automatic bottle redemption machine but also participated in other exciting activities listed as spinning the lucky wheel and receiving gifts from the Botol brand.

Zeen with teachers and fellow students on the launch day  

In addition, in order to gather comprehensive data for the “i Ve Chai Machine” to gradually improve and be used in the best way as well as to spread information about the machine, the sustainable university project committee at UEH has implemented the MINIGAME “Who recycles the most scraps?” for students in recent times.

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MINIGAME

“WHO RECYCLES THE MOST SCRAPS?

With the emerging star in recycling

Automatic recyclable collection machine

I VE CHAI MACHINE

 

MINIGAME “Who recycles the most scraps?”

During the 27 days of this program, the machine collected a total of 2,400 plastic bottles and aluminum cans, initially helping UEHers get accustomed to and develop the habit of using the automatic recycling machine. Additionally, the Sustainable University Project Committee received many positive feedbacks about the machine, such as: “I demand the machine to collect more types of bottles available in the market”; “I hope in the future the machine can recycle more items! It helps protect the environment and enhance people's awareness of recycling”; “I request the project to install more machines 😽😻”....  

The first promising data reports from the machines at UEH facilities  

The automatic recycling machine - "i Ve Chai Machine" (Ai ve chai hong?) is currently placed at three major UEH campuses, including:  

• Campus A: in front of the Training Room;  

• Campus B: in front of ACB Reading Room - B2.011;  

• Campus N: in the hallway opposite the Cheers convenience store;  

to accommodate the collection of plastic bottles and aluminum cans from the large number of students, staff, and learners at UEH. In the past four-month operation, the machine has recorded impressive and promising data regarding the collection of plastic bottles and aluminum cans at the three campuses. The numbers that signify the initial success of the "i Ve Chai Machine" include 24,980 plastic bottles and 9,773 aluminum cans collected, saving 132,268 liters of water and 11,177.28 kWh of electricity while reducing CO2 emissions by 1,746.45 kgs.

 

Data from the "i Ve Chai Machine" recorded at UEH facilities  

How to use the “i Ve Chai Machine”

A reminder for UEHer users to use the "i Ve Chai Machine" after the product is consumed is posted on the vending machine at UEH facility B.  

Notes for UEHer when using the automatic bottle recycling machine - “i Ve Chai Machine” (Who wants to recycle?)  

To ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the automatic bottle recycling machine - “i Ve Chai Machine,” UEHers should keep the following points in mind when using the machine:  

• Make sure plastic bottles/aluminum cans are empty of any liquid, not crushed or damaged;  

• Ensure plastic bottles/aluminum cans have intact labels and barcodes on their bodies;  

• The machine only accepts drinking bottles and aluminum cans ranging from 250 ml to 2500 ml;  

• The machine only accepts PET plastic bottles and aluminum drink cans;  

• Do not insert additional bottles when the machine is displaying an error or is full;  

• Do not place any other types of waste, aside from the compatible plastic bottles and aluminum cans, into the machine.  

Additionally, while using the Botol app to earn points after inserting plastic bottles/aluminum cans into the machine, please note that:  

• When points are not added yet, it may result from the following situations: the machine losing internet connection; points will be added once the internet is restored;  

• Rewards can be exchanged for cash returned to the registered e-wallet or converted into vouchers;  

• Please enter the number of points you wish to redeem in the designated space when exchanging points (do not enter your phone number here).  

The collective effort to protect the environment and the proper use of the machine by students, staff, and learners at UEH significantly contributes to the innovative journey toward a circular recycling waste model as well as advancing UEH's goal of becoming a Green University.  

If you encounter any issues with the machine, for example, "not recognizing" or "reporting an error," please help the UEH Sustainable University Project Board by providing feedback through this form:
https://forms.gle/e4jDnrbsTNgBiJYf6