RecycleBank, the Recycling Program that Pays You Back, Heading to Europe
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.15.08
RecycleBank, the company who brought us an innovative recycling program that pays you to throw less stuff away (by throwing more in the recycling bin), is taking their game across the Atlantic Ocean, to Europe. Fresh off raising $30 million, the company will expand services here in the States and will expand into Europe.
We've had our eye on RecycleBank for awhile, from back when they were a pilot program and after they opened up operations in three states, and their incentive-based recycling business model has always been intriguing; after all, if altruism isn't a good enough reason to increase recycling rates, a little extra money ought to be.
How Recyclebank works
For those who are new to RecycleBank, here's a quick refresher: customers receive a 35, 64, or 96 gallon RecycleBank container which has a barcode that identifies their home. As the truck collects the recycling it scans the barcode on the container and translates the value of the recycled items into a dollar amount -- up to $35 RecycleBank Dollars a month -- that can be redeemed though shopping coupons at participating businesses. The more you recycle, the more reward you get (up to a point, at least) and the less stuff goes to landfill. The program is available to both residential and commercial customers.
Where to find RecycleBank
The recycling program is now available in cities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York; if they aren't in your town yet, request that they expand service near you, and you can look forward to earning cash for your trash.
::RecycleBank via ::Green Tech Blog
See also: ::Incentive Based Recycling by RecycleBank and ::Here is an incentive to recycle: money
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too bad they don't offer this in CA. I wonder why though... hey californians out there, request recycle bank to offer it in CA! maybe if they get enough emails, they'll consider us too.
Sounds like a great idea. It will get more people into recycling.
What a great idea! Can anybody tell me when the recycle bank is coming to Europe? I think this is going to be a real success in Europe. I’ve heard about another nice environmental initiative wherein I think you might be all interested. The website is http://www.floraqueen.com and during May they plant 5 trees for every gift you buy to celebrate mother’s day. This way you make not only your own mother happy, but also Mother Nature.
They offer service is New York and Massachusetts but not Connecticut? They should expand service here too!
I have heard the CEO speak, and it turns out that we in California already have a higher-than-average rate of recycling, so there are fewer dollars in it for RecycleBank.
Northeast only? What about Texas?
The government could really do something like this.
True about California. The problem I see? Most of my recycling is picked out by homeless people before the city gets it and help fund the program (which is illegal, but not punished). My family's solution has been to recycle everything ourselves, then use the money toward favorite eco-charity (currently the World Wildlife Fund).