A Green Lifestyle Idea That Rewards You: You Get Paid To Recycle

Could working towards a green lifestyle really put money in your pocket? You can if you get paid to recycle.

The idea of ​​getting paid to recycle may sound crazy, but it’s not. Enter a Pennsylvania company that came up with an ingenious idea on how to encourage people to recycle. The company is called RecycleBank and is a private company based in Philadelphia that has a high-tech idea on how to get more people interested in recycling. Here’s how you can make this work for you.

The concept is remarkably simple, but also high-tech. Give out wheelie bins, each with an implanted computer chip, to the people who will help with the recycling. The implanted chip stores certain information about the people who own the bag: name, address and phone number. In addition, the chip carries a bank account number, linked to RecycleBank, which automatically counts the amount of recyclable waste delivered to a collection truck. The truck is equipped with a special computer and barcode system that calculates the value of items turned in for recycling. It works in the same way as the self-service lane in a supermarket.

Once the recycled material data is recorded, the computer calculates a RecycleBank dollar amount that is deposited into the customer’s RecycleBank account, who can then use those RecycleBank dollars at participating retailers.

Some of the businesses already working with RecycleBank include Target, Starbucks and Whole Foods Market, and they hope many local businesses will be included as well. RecycleBank Dollars are somewhat flexible and can be used in different ways, depending on customer preference. For example, you can choose to donate your RecycleBank dollars to a local organization or charity instead of spending the money on yourself.

I think this company has a great idea: people have the opportunity to help conserve resources, keep their local environment cleaner, and help an organization of their choice. In keeping with a green lifestyle, encouraging recycling also fulfills one of the three Rs (the three Rs are reduce, reuse, recycle).

Getting paid to recycle isn’t just an opportunity for consumers and homeowners. Small businesses can also participate.

The incentives created by RecycleBank are also better than the alternative that has been proposed. Called “Pay-As-You-Throw” (PAYT), this concept operates in the opposite direction of the RecycleBank program. Consumers are forced to pay for what they throw away instead of being rewarded for what they recycle. Human nature being what it is, the reward will likely attract more participants than the punishment.

Many cities and towns can benefit not only from the monetary benefits of a program like RecycleBank, but also from the incentive for residents to clean up the local environment. If the program is available where you live, you have the opportunity to earn money from your recycling efforts. Check it out.