January 3 16:00
Students of the Faculty of Geology and Geography of TSU have developed a vending machine that exchanges plastic lids for special food for squirrels. They plan to install the first machine in 2026 in the University Grove of Tomsk.
As project manager Daria Bykova told RIA Tomsk, the idea combines care for squirrels and ecology. “There is usually a place to take the bottles, but it looks like regular trash cans. And in our grove the squirrels are tame, I often want to feed them, but I don’t have any food with me. We decided that a person would receive a reward for handing over plastic,” the student explained.
The device works on a simple principle: instead of coins, it accepts caps from plastic bottles and dispenses a portion of safe food for squirrels. They plan to use the collected plastic as material to create new similar machines.
According to Bykova, the team has already prepared a working prototype. They plan to apply for a grant in 2026 to install the first machine in TSU University Grove. If the experiment is successful, similar devices may appear in other green areas of the city.
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