Houston Expands Single-Stream Recycling Program, To Reward Residents For Recycling With RecycleBank
Recycling Rewards Program Helps Promote Sustainability by Increasing Recycling Participation
Houston, TX - Recently, Houston Solid Waste Management Director Harry Hayes joined city officials and representatives from RecycleBank to announce that the City of Houston has partnered with RecycleBank®, a rewards program that rewards households for recycling and other positive environmental behaviors. The first phase of the RecycleBank program is sponsored in part by Alcoa and Texas Instruments. Already a success in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as in 21 states and in the United Kingdom, RecycleBank measures the amount of material recycled and then converts that amount into RecycleBank Points that can be redeemed for rewards, gift cards, groceries, and products at hundreds of local and national RecycleBank Reward Partners.
"The City of Houston is proud to announce its partnership with RecycleBank and the expansion of our green cart, single-stream recycling program to 22,000 households," Hayes said. "Houston has set many goals in becoming a greener, more sustainable city. Partnering with RecycleBank will both increase recycling and reduce the amount of material going to the landfill."
Single-stream recycling means only one collection container is needed for all paper, glass, metal, cardboard, and plastic recyclables—no more sorting. In March, close to 10,000 Houston households were introduced to the innovative way of recycling with new 96-gal. green carts replacing the 18-gal. dual-stream recycling bins. Hayes said that in the first six months of the program, participating households recycled more than the City's average combined.
"We expect to see a further increase, now that households will be rewarded for recycling," Hayes added. "This program is good for both the environment and the local economy. RecycleBank Points translate into savings for residents during these tough economic times. Families may earn up to $540 worth in reward value each year through their household recycling."
RecycleBank Points are redeemable from hundreds of local and national partners such as Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Dick's Sporting Goods, CVS/pharmacy, and Bed, Bath & Beyond, as well as from a host of local participating businesses in more than 20 categories that include food and grocery, sports and recreation, entertainment, restaurants, health and beauty. There is even an option to donate Points to charities or to local schools for environmental programming through the RecycleBank Green Schools Program.
"As RecycleBank continues to expand across the United States, our ongoing vision of rewarding households for recycling is becoming a reality," RecycleBank Chief Operations Officer Scott Lamb said. "The City of Houston recognized the value that RecycleBank brings to communities by helping them reach their environmental goals, putting savings in their residents' pockets and invigorating the local business community."
Alcoa, the world's leading producer of primary aluminum and alumina, fabricated aluminum, and a leader in the recycling of aluminum, helped to fund the RecycleBank program in Houston. In addition to Houston, Alcoa has funded one other RecycleBank program in Mesa, Arizona.
"At Alcoa, it's important for us to give back to our communities in which we live and work," said Alcoa Director of Corporate Metal Recycling Strategy, Gregory Wittbecker. "A program like RecycleBank is a win-win all around since it fits into our aluminum industry goal of increasing the recycling rate for aluminum cans to 75 percent by 2015. Boosting aluminum recycling rates saves natural resources and reduces energy demand."
Texas Instruments provides the technology that allows the RecycleBank program to operate. Green carts have a personalized identification tag made by TI. Technology on the recycling trucks reads the ID tags, records how much households recycle by weight, and transmits that information to RecycleBank. RecycleBank then credits accounts with RecycleBank Points based on the amount recycled.
"TI has long had a goal of zero wasted resources. In fact, TI recycled 91 percent of our total waste in 2008," stated Paul Westbrook, Texas Instruments Sustainable Development Manager. "Recycling and resource management ensure the areas where we operate are cleaner, healthier places to live and work. It also improves the company's efficiency, reduces costs and fosters sustainable growth in shareholder value. Because of the benefits we've seen through our own recycling and conservation activities, partnering with RecycleBank to help our communities do the same was an easy decision."
RecycleBank services more than one million people across 21 states. By cumulative recycling efforts, those households have recycled more than 300,000 tons of material, saving more than 200 million gallons of oil and over 3 million trees. For more information on RecycleBank, visit www.RecycleBank.com.
Houston residents begin receiving rewards for recycling on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
SOURCE: The Solid Waste Management Department