City pilots incentive-based recycling scheme
A city has started a rewards scheme to incentivise household recycling.
The US city of Atlanta says the pilot scheme will encourage proper recycling habits, boost recycling participation and reduce the amount of recyclables being sent to area landfills.
Each home in the pilot area will receive a 96-gallon blue cart, retrofitted with an ID tag with the resident’s household address and RecycleBank account number. City trucks have been retrofitted with technology to read the cart ID tag. Upon activating their account with RecycleBank, either online or by phone, the household will begin to earn RecycleBank Points with every pick-up.
Atlanta has partnered with Rehrig Pacific, a container company and service provider, for the programme. The company has collaborated with key sponsor Coca-Cola Recycling, LLC and rewards partner RecycleBank to offer recycling rewards to 10,000 residents.
Points can be redeemed for rewards, gift cards, groceries, and products at hundreds of local and national RecycleBank Reward Partners. Partners include giant national brands and retailers such as Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Publix, and CVS/pharmacy, as well as local partners like Zoo Atlanta, Radial Café, Rita’s Water Ice, MetroFresh, Edgewood Avenue Pizza, and Six Feet Under.
Mayor Shirley Franklin said: “Incentive based recycling will help us to meet our recycling and sustainability goals while giving something back to our residents. During today’s recession and economic climate, saving money on groceries, on clothing, or at the pharmacy translates to great value. We have found a way to provide real financial rewards and help the environment at the same time.”
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), based in Atlanta, is also involved in the pilot programme. Through sponsorship dollars, they have enabled the purchase of the 10,000 Rehrig Pacific blue recycling carts needed for the scheme.