How does RecycleBank work?
Using the RecycleBank proprietary three-step process Recycle, Record, Reward™, we quickly and easily measure the amount of material each home recycles and then convert that activity into RecycleBank Points. The process for your residents is simple:
- Recycle - Residents fill their recycling containers
- Record - An ID tag on the recycling container records participation and the amount recycled is turned into RecycleBank Points
- Reward - Points can be redeemed for hundreds of local, regional, and national rewards
Why and how does a resident activate their RecycleBank account? What happens if they don’t?
Residents must activate their accounts in order to begin receiving RecycleBank Reward Points. Activating an account can be done online or by calling a customer care representative. Activation helps us to verify household information and help the participant engage in our program. An engaged RecycleBank home tends to recycle more!
When can residents start using their Points?
Participants may begin using Points immediately upon registering with RecycleBank, as long as they have accrued enough Points to use for redemption.
What happens if a RecycleBank participant moves?
A person can continue to access their account and order rewards for up to 180 days after moving from a residence. To assure that the reward reaches the proper destination, they need to call customer care with new contact information.
What is the average volume per household participant per month? How much of this is glass?
Active recyclers in RecycleBank communities are currently averaging approximately 24lbs per week of recyclables. Our estimate is that approximately 13-15% is glass.
What is the average savings at stores that these Points translate to?
Rewards vary as much as the people who use them. Rewards can come in the form of:
- Discounts (ex. 20% off)
- Dollars off (ex. $10 off purchase of $50 or more)
- Gift cards
- Online gift codes
- Gift certificates
- Products (t-shirts, cookbooks, movie tickets or toys)
- High ticket items (trips, tickets to concerts and events)
- Experiential rewards (day at a spa, dinner with a top chef)
- Contests and sweepstakes
The max number of Points per month for curbside is 450 RecycleBank Points, per year 5400 RecycleBank Points.
What is the average number of Points that households earn?
An average household recycling 20 lbs/week can earn 2400 PTS a year (max is 5400 PTS a year)
How does RecycleBank calculate the RecycleBank Points that they are awarding to individual homes?
1 LB of recycled materials = 2.5 RecycleBank Points
Can reward Points be carried over to subsequent years?
As long as you remain active in the program (i.e. continue recycling or engaging in other RecycleBank activities), RecycleBank Points will not expire. RecycleBank Points can and will be carried over to the next year.
Do Points expire?
No, the Points do not expire as long as a household is active (i.e. continue recycling or engaging in other RecycleBank activities) in the RecycleBank program.
Do the rewards (coupons) expire?
Some rewards do have expiration dates (most do not). These are printed on the reward itself and are listed in the terms of the reward online.
How do you prevent people from cheating the system?
All trucks are retrofitted with RecycleBank proprietary technology including a contamination button that can flag a cart with items that are not recyclable in the program. Continued contamination can result in a household risking further participation in the program. There is also a monthly cap that is generous enough to reward diligent recyclers but that dissuades cheating. For the most part, cheating is rare as most members know they have a good thing going and do not want to risk losing it.
Does RecycleBank sell resident information to your reward sponsor companies for their mailing lists?
RecycleBank does not sell personal information, but we do report on aggregate information. For example, we report on recycling habits, redemption preferences and over all program statistics. Some municipalities do get information on a household’s particular recycling behavior.
How does a local business become a RecycleBank Reward Partner?
RecycleBank has local reward managers that can help a business to create a reward that meets their marketing objectives. Our design department creates the reward; the business approves it and the reward becomes active in the program. Additionally, RecycleBank handles all printing and fulfillment. The business simply needs to honor the reward when a customer walks into the store.
How would a new resident moving into a residence having the RecycleBank program sign up?
Call our customer care department toll free, 888-727-2978 or come to www.RecycleBank.com.
Can a resident have more than one cart?
Yes, more then one cart can be assigned to the same account. So a resident can earn Points with multiple carts if necessary.
What is the time frame for set up once approved?
The lead time for setup is 90 days. The longest lead times are related to the setup of regional and local rewards partners. From the time a municipality signs the contract to implement the RecycleBank program; it will take 90 days to organize the launch. The main time constraints are:
- Ordering of equipment to include carts, trucks, scales, readers, etc
- Recruitment of local reward partners
What if the RFID on the cart becomes damaged?
It is recommended to have additional carts in inventory to swap out if there is a cart maintenance issue. A damaged tag can be replaced in the field or the entire cart can be replaced. This is the responsibility of the cart maintenance personnel and RecycleBank will provide training on tag swapping and data controls around cart/tag movement.
What is meant by community weight based program?
Some curbside neighborhoods with RecycleBank operate as true community efforts. In these programs, individual households earn rewards based on their equal share of the total amount that their entire community recycles. So in these neighborhoods, it really does take a village – but together you all have the ability to earn big.
Why should the city have this program?
Greener cities and towns make everyone happy. Teaming up with RecycleBank is a unique opportunity to:
- Increase Recycling: proven, measurable results
- Local Economic Value: drive revenue and customer loyalty to local businesses in program
- Environmental Leadership: recycling saves energy and natural resources
No. In single-stream recycling all recyclable materials go into one cart.
Are residents in apartments included in this program?
If the residents of the complex can have their recycling serviced with carts, then yes, they can participate in the RecycleBank rewards program.
What types of items can be recycled?
The recyclable materials are dictated by the MRF that services the area.
Does RecycleBank have advice on 64 or 96 gallon carts as a best practice?
Most places are using 64 gallon carts due to storage limitations at households. However, if residents have storage space or you offer only bi-weekly recycling, we encourage the use of a 96 gallon cart. On average, here is how the two compare in collection:
| Cart Size | Weekly Weight | Bi-Weekly Weight |
| 64 gallon | 29 lbs | 34 lbs |
| 96 gallon | 34 lbs | 38 lbs |
How does marketing and advertising evolve and how much will RecycleBank do and spend to promote the service?
RecycleBank will work with you to customize any efforts to best promote the program and our mutual success. Our marketing team will design all collateral to meet marketing needs such as:
- Introduction Letter from the Mayor (sent by municipality, our team can help draft)
- Activation Mailer
- Information for Community Meetings or Open Forums
Click here for a demonstration of how RecycleBank works!
