Philadelphia Recycling Rewards

Katie Edwards

Waste and Recycling Project Coordinator, Clean Air Council

What is Philadelphia Recycling Rewards

• An incentive based recycling program for residential collection in Philadelphia administered by RecycleBank.

• RecycleBank partners with cities and haulers to reward households for recycling. Households earn RecycleBank Points that can be used to shop at over 1,500 local and national businesses.

Who else has RecycleBank?

• Borough of Swedesboro, NJ

• Brooklawn, NJ• Cherry Hill, NJ• Cinnaminson, NJ• Clayton Borough, NJ• Delanco, NJ• Elk Township, NJ• Florence, NJ• Galloway Township, NJ• Glassboro, NJ

•Moorestown, NJ•Mount Holly, NJ•National Park, NJ•Tabernacle, NJ•Westville, NJ•Woolwich, NJ•Lower Gwynedd Twp, PA•Springfield Township, PA•Upper Dublin, PA•Whitemarsh Twp, PA•Wilmington, DE

How Recycling Rewards Works

• The City of Philadelphia saves millions of dollars a year by recycling residential waste instead of land filling it.

• The City is PAID $51/ton for recyclables and pays $63/ton for trash.

• Recycling Rewards shares some of the savings with residents.

Getting Started

• Must receive City collection

• Call 1-888-769-7960 or visit www.phillyrecyclingpays.com

• Answer registration questions and a welcome packet will be sent to residence in 3-4 weeks.

• Addresses must be checked against BRT.

Getting Started

• Place sticker with RFID on recycling bin

• Place bin out each week

• City trucks are equipped with RFID scanners

• Points are distributed– Weekly for participation– Monthly for waste reduction

Points

• Each household should get approx 37 points/week based on how many people in their neighborhood participate in program.

• More participants = more recycling = more points!

• Each household should get approx 50 points/month if trash tonnage is reduced.

Other ways to get points

• Special Offers from RecycleBank partners

• Sign-up Bonus

• Electronics recycling – Up to 10,000 points for sending in cell

phones, lap tops, mp3 players and other small electronics to RecycleBank’s electronics recycling program.

Redeeming Points

• Visit www.recyclebank.com and login• Click on “Get Rewards”• Electronic rewards will be emailed

instantly, coupons will be mailed and should be received within 7 days

• RecycleBank Catalog is available for those who don’t have internet access. Points can be redeemed by calling the hotline and will be mailed to the residence.

How valuable are rewards?

• Average household accumulates about 200 points/month

• Rewards vary • 10,000 = $10 Best Buy Gift Card• 400 = $20 Jose Pistola’s Gift Card• 115 = Many magazine subscriptions• 200 = 1 month membership at Sweat Fitness• 60 = $2 off produce $15 or more at ACME• 100 = $10 off $50 at Greensgrow Farm

RecycleBank.com

Donating Points

• Philadelphia’s Rewards local donation partner is the Green School’s Program

• 1025 points = $10 donation• National donation partners are

– Oxfam– United Nations Foundations– Habitat for Humanity– International Medical Corps– Partners in Health– AmeriCares

FAQs

• What if my bin gets stolen?

• Does it matter how much I recycle?

• I signed up months/weeks ago and still haven’t received my welcome packet.

• How can I get my apartment building to do this?

• Can I donate my points to other non-profits?

Questions?

• www.phillyrecyclingpays.com

• Hotline: 1-888-769-7960

• www.recyclebank.com/philly

• kedwards@cleanair.org

• 215-567-4004, ext 102