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DRAPER — This Earth Day, a distribution plant is reducing waste by fixing soda machines. The Coca-Cola vending machines, soda fountains and coolers we all see at gas stations and restaurants are refurbished at the Swire Coca-Cola facility in Draper. It may look like a vending machine graveyard, but inside this facility, there is a cacophony of machinery beeping and whirring. [gallery ids="766464,766463,766465"] Remanufacturing Supervisor Mike Miera at the Draper facility said they work to make the Coca-Cola machines "like new." "Sometimes they can be easy, and they can be difficult," Miera said. If a technician can't fix a soda fountain, vending machine or cooler in the field, or if it's vandalized, it comes to Swire Coca-Cola's remanufacturing Draper facility. At the plant, they figure out what needs to be replaced and what can be recycled. He said once the machines are stripped for parts, they're washed and dried. "We've found our share of dead mice and frogs," Miera said. Then, Miera said the in-need of repair machinery is taken to the refrigeration department. "We want to make sure we have all hazardous contaminant refrigerants out," he said. Then onto the refinishing shop, where dents are filled and machines are painted and repaneled. "We have a local company that re-powder-coats our shelving for us to repurpose it," Miera said. Some parts may be replaced with more efficient options, or existing parts are repaired. Equipment Fulfilment Center Manager, Gilbert Abarca, said refurbishing machines cuts waste and costs. "A brand new typical vending machine can average between $4,000 and $6,000 per unit," Abarca said. "Where we can manufacture a piece of equipment on average for just over between $1,000 and $2,000." Miera admitted this is tedious work, but he appreciates the process. "I got a son that works here now, and I got young kids that are still in school ... I want to leave the world ... a better place for them," Miera said. "So, what we're doing here is sustainability. It's helping us out." Swire Coca-Cola's remanufacturing team said its refurbishing process typically adds seven years to the life of a vending machine. Contributing: Devin Oldroyd
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