CorpComms Magazine

A trial scheme that rewards householders for recycling has been extended to cover drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles, jars and paper.

The scheme, which covers 4,000 households in Windsor and Maidenhead, allows residents to claim money off vouchers and vouchers as a reward for recycling. Households in the trial, who can claim a maximum of £135 per year in rewards, have been given an extra wheelie bin which is fitted with microchips that record the amount of waste that they recycle. Points, which can be exchanged for vouchers, are awarded on the basis of how much has been recycled and how regularly.

The vouchers can be exchanged at local retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, Subway and Snappy Snaps. 

The scheme is already operational in America, where it went from a few thousand households to more than one million across 19 states in a short time. Veolia Environmental Services, which operates the scheme on behalf of US firm Recycle Bank, is believed to be in talks with 12 other councils. Mayor of London Boris Johnson is considering a similar scheme across several London boroughs. 

share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit | Tweet