Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Thunk.

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Bottleslot

bottle/can recycling machine lottery
  (+2)
(+2)
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BOTTLESLOT adjust the bottle-can recycling machines to offer a "lottery" choice: either the regular nickle/bottle or opt for a bigger payoff. state uses the funds for education-whatever.

painless: no cash outlay for "player":the deposit on bottle has already been paid at the checkout counter might result in more recycling (facial [non]expressions of the casino slot plays and people stuffing bottles into recycling machines seem to be identical.)

mread4, Oct 12 2003

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       Seems like a fun idea. At a former job we had a snack vending machine that would occasionally flash "YOU WIN!" on its little screen and give you the item you selected for free. (WTAGIPBAN)
krelnik, Oct 12 2003
  

       nice first idea (got there before [krelnik] :)   

       +1
po, Oct 12 2003
  

       [mread4] YOU WIN!
FarmerJohn, Oct 12 2003
  

       This really is a great idea.+ People with gambling addictions will make sure every can out there gets recycled... say, are you done drinking that yet?
Laughs Last, Oct 12 2003
  

       So, the prizes are paid in bottles or money? :-)
hippo, Oct 13 2003
  

       I dunno what I look like when playing slot machines cos I don't, but my facial expression when feeding the bottle machine is usualy one of increasing rage with an accompanying whispered monologue along the lines of:
Next one...next one...what?. Yes, you do accept that bottle...yes, you do...yes, you do...you did on Tuesday...accept...accept...ACCEPT!....seeeeeee. Stupid bloody thing.
  

       Plus, by the way.
squeak, Oct 13 2003
  

       Brilliant. +
RayfordSteele, Oct 13 2003
  

       Whoaaa. Jackpot! (gets covered in glass fragments).   

       Hopefully this will pay out in something other than glass. (+)
st3f, Oct 13 2003
  

       [+] must ... build ... hum-bum ... casino
Letsbuildafort, Oct 13 2003
  

       TOTALLY BAKED with cans!   

       About eight years ago, maybe more like ten years, the BP petrol chain in New Zealand operated a similar system with cans. Heck, maybe it was in the 80's even?   

       Stick in a can, it would get crushed, and then would randomly spit out a ticket which could be redeemed for small prizes like chocolate bars.   

       This was when recycling was still relatively new, but once people actually got into the habit of it, it no longer became necessary to offer prizes, and the machines disappeared.
the_jxc, Oct 13 2003
  

       I like [Laughs] addendum about harnessing the gambling addicted. These folks might wind up drinking a lot of soda. Perhaps the market for 4-oz bottles would soar - "more plays in every case!".
bungston, Nov 13 2003
  
      
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