I’m always surprised by how few people recycle. I actually know a person who drinks bottled water daily and doesn’t recycle. Curbside recycling is an option in her area. ?!?!?!?
There is an east coast company called RecycleBank, the 4-year old brain child of two high schoolers, that pays Americans to recycle. Households get 2.5 points for every pound of recyclables, up to 450 points a month. Each point is worth 10 cents. Recycling 100 lbs a month = 250 points or $25. The money you earn can be redeemed at retailers like the local grocery store.
I think it’s sad that people need financial incentives to recycle, but the program’s success is impressive. Wilmington, Delaware has seen its recyling rate go from 3% to 32% since RecycleBank arrived in town. In Everett, Massachusets, the average household now recycles ten times more than before the program began. Nice! With national recycling rates hovering around 32%, there is definitely room for improvement. RecycleBank now plans to head to areas where recylcing rates are low–the South and Midwest. Maybe one will be headed your way soon. I certainly wouldn’t mind getting a little cash for all the things we recycle. I’ve often thought another good way to increase recycling would be to charge households for every pound of trash they throw out. Not nearly as appealing as RecycleBank’s program…
For more, see Newsweek’s article “Saving the World for a Latte,” Oct 6, 2008.
