Lottery rewards for good deeds
Past Institute publications have supported Roger Knights' proposal that socially desirable actions could be rewarded by random lottery prizes if it would be too expensive to reward each individual such action. Here are two examples of this lottery reward system in practice.
Random prizes for depositing cans
From Warmer Bulletin (May '95; free subs from The World Resources Foundation, Bridge House, High St, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1NP, tel 01732 368333; fax 01732 368337).
Swiss group IGORA, a co-operative body set up by the aluminium industry and drinks manufacturers in 1990 to promote aluminium can recovery in Switzerland, is using 'Lucky Can' machines as a promotional tool. There are now 85 of the machines in Swiss supermarkets and similar locations. In 1994 they collected more than seven million cans. When a can is placed in the machine, revolving drums similar to those in slot machines indicate whether a prize has been awarded. The range of prizes includes free flights as well as cash prizes up to SFr500.
Lottery tickets for old batteries
From an item by Lorna Howarth in Resurgence magazine No. 166 (subs. £16; Resurgence, Ford House, Hartland, Bideford, Devon EX39 6EE, tel 01237 441293; fax 01237 441203).
The Austrian Economics Ministry has sent out over a million eye-catching paper bags to homes in Austria for the separate collection of batteries, which are notoriously deleterious in landfill sites. When full, the bags can be traded at shops for receipts entitling the holder to take part in a national lottery with 400,000 Schillings in prize money. The hope is that this will lead to 80 per cent of used batteries being returned to their point-of-sale.
Lottery awards to encourage usage of public transport
Summarised from an idea by Jim Richards, sent out as an e-mail by the website www.idea-a-day.com.
To encourage usage of the public transport system, and to discourage fare dodging, a lottery style competition could be introduced on the underground. For example, each valid ticket put through the barriers would immediately enter that ticket's owner into a lottery. If the ticket wins, a lucky ticket could be printed and fed back out to the passenger who could then exchange it for a prize. Such winning 'lucky' tickets could also be exchanged for additional travel passes (such as a free weekly travelcard) or for credits to platform retailers.
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