How to Exchange Empty Bottles For Subway Credit on Line 10

The machines that pay customers for empty plastic bottles on subway line 10 actually were installed at the end of last year, but most people still aren't aware the machines exist.  I recently gave it a try and received RMB 1.8 on my transportation card.

Installed by recycling company Incom, two refrigerator-sized vending machines can now be found at Shaoyaoju station, and the other two at Jinsong.

When I spotted one of the machines at Shaoyaoju station, several people were already curiously gazing at it. I offered an empty bottle for one of the fellows to try out. He accidently touched the “Donate” button before we could figure out the material rewards.

The machines, which can hold up to 400 crushed bottles, only accept empty plastic bottles with a proper barcode – plastic bottles from illegal venders won’t be recognized and accepted. Five hundred ml bottles are rewarded 10 cents each and smaller ones 5 cents. Bottles between 1.2L and 2.0L are rewarded 20 cents, all of which can be scanned into your transportation card.

To use the machine, first press the “throw bottle” button (开始投瓶钮) and the window will open. Insert one bottle with its barcode on top, and the machine will accept it and take a few seconds to crush it before it asks you to insert another one or get rewards. After you give the machine all your bottles, choose one of the options: Donate, Donate & Win Lottery, Recharge Phone and Recharge Card. If you so choose, put your transportation card under the scanner and it takes about five seconds to recharge.

Quoted in a previous China Daily report, the manufacturer Incom said it's their long term plan to install 2,000 vending machines in Beijing within the next few years, and 80 of them would be located at colleges and universities, shopping malls, communities and office buildings.

Photos: Clemence Jiang