Residents Make RecycleBank an Overnight Success

Written by RecycleBank Published: September 01, 2009

Just two months since the launch of the UK’s first recycling for rewards scheme – RecycleBank – more than 1,400 households in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have thrown their weight behind the initiative.


Of the 2,800 residents invited to participate, more than 50% (1,466) have activated the green waste account and are currently earning RecycleBank Points, which are being used to collect rewards from local and national retailers.

Working in partnership with Veolia Environmental Services, the scheme uses the carrot rather than the stick to encourage residents to recycle. Within 48 hours of the scheme going live, 24% of households activated their accounts indicating that the initiative is already a runaway success. 

Councillor Liam Maxwell from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead says: “Since the scheme was launched on 1st June over 250 rewards have been redeemed by more than 100 homes. On average they’ve earned over £20 worth of vouchers to spend at major stores like Marks and Spencer and Costa Coffee and local partners such as the Windsor Leisure Centre”.

“It’s an unprecedented success and proves that incentive based recycling is the future. We look forward to rolling out Phase 2, which will include mixed recycling to a further 3,750 households in September.”

Local householder Mr. Arvi Jassal from Wraysbury was one of the first residents to reap the benefits of this scheme by receiving RecycleBank Points every time he puts his green waste out for collection.

“It easy, good for the environment and the added bonus is that I earn rewards for something that I would do anyway”, comments Mr Jassal. “I look forward to logging onto my RecycleBank account, choosing my rewards and saving money when I go shopping. Putting my bin out for collection couldn’t be less of a chore.”

Households in the US have been gripped by the scheme which is used by over 1 million people in 21 states. In the UK, households receive Points in their RecycleBank online account every time they put their green waste out for collection. They can then redeem these Points at over 70 local and national stores and leisure facilities, or donate them to charity.

A survey by RecycleBank with over 500 households taking part in the green waste scheme shows that 85% thought the process of activating their account was ‘easy or very easy’. A further 87% also said they were keen to see the RecycleBank scheme expanded to include other materials for recycling such as glass, metals, paper and plastic.

Matthew Tucker, President of RecycleBank, said; “We have found UK residents to be much more in touch with environmental issues and we are pleased to see such a high participation rate. Our success shows that UK residents are ready and eager for a rewards based recycling initiative that will revolutionise recycling across the country.”

Paul Levett, Deputy Chief Executive of Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc says: “We work in partnership with local authorities to promote environmental best practice.  It is our hope that this scheme will encourage other local governments across the UK to adopt similar practices to increase resident participation and recycling.”