Sun
Jan 25 2009
11:32 am

Here's an interesting and innovative new program coming to East Tennessee beginning March 2nd. RecycleBank is launching city-wide in Oak Ridge and Jefferson City, and on a subscription basis in Knoxville.

RecycleBank lets residents track the environmental impact of their recycling efforts and earn points redeemable with over 900 participating companies. Read more about how it works after the jump...

From RecycleBank:

An exciting new recycling rewards program is coming to Tennessee on Monday, March 2.

With the help of Waste Connections, RecycleBank will launch citywide in Oak Ridge and Jefferson City and as a subscription service in Knoxville.

How does RecycleBank work?

• RecycleBank partners with local municipalities or waste haulers to give households a recycling cart with an ID tag on it.

• Residents fill up their single-sort carts weekly with recyclables.

• RecycleBank then measures the amount of material each home recycles then converts that activity into RecycleBank Points. The more a household recycles, the more "Points" they earn (think airline miles).

• Participants can watch their RecycleBank Points grow online at (link...) with each weekly pick-up, as well as learn about their personal environmental impact through recycling.

• RecycleBank Points can be redeemed with over 900 national and local reward partners like Kraft Foods and Target.com – a particularly enticing incentive for families in these tough economic times!

The program is successfully operating in hundreds of thousands of homes across 15 states – and growing quickly. It’s a revolutionary idea that’s changing the way cities think about economics and the environment.

Find out more at the RecycleBank website.

Justin's picture

We already recycle via Waste

We already recycle via Waste Connections (we have to pay for that as well). It doesnt look like they are partnered up with them in Knoxville.

R. Neal's picture

According to their press

According to their press release, they are starting it up in Knoxville for subscribers March 2nd. I figured this meant any subscriber, but it's not clear.

Justin's picture

I would love to get "paid"

I would love to get "paid" to recycle. We didn't start recycling all of our trash until last year. We pay around $50+ a year for WC curbside recycling. We got a huge trash can that we toss everything in...no sorting needed. Its cut our trash output substantially. *I wouldn't mind seeing mandatory recycling in Knoxville.

*cue libertarian responses...

CathyMcCaughan's picture

When this program was

When this program was designed, recyclables were profitable. Since then, the market for them has dwindled with the economy. If the warehouses fill with recyclables needing a customer, I wouldn't be surprised to see the program suspended.

bizgrrl's picture

The City of Alcoa uses Waste

The City of Alcoa uses Waste Connections for curb side recycling, covered by taxes. We get pickup once a week. Last October they added to the types of things that could be included with recyclables. It's wonderful to see how the neighborhood is responding. Many people could probably use the large container, they are using laundry baskets in addition to the recycle bin. Maybe the City of Alcoa will join this program.

Pam Strickland's picture

In LR we had free curbside

In LR we had free curbside pick-up. No sorting necessary.

I'm contemplating the paid WC pickup, but hate to have to pay. We have a pretty good system in our basement sorting stuff out, and then periodically hauling it off.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

sean's picture

Cathy is correct about

Cathy is correct about profitability as this is a relatively dated concept. I heard it discussed here in early summer 2008 but not much since. My understanding was it will be offered to those paying for curbside pickup, ie. subscribers, who can then order their "rewards." My vote for the Best Program Self-Sustainer Award appears to be that from Evian. You can buy more plastic bottles to recycle!

R. Neal's picture

Bill Lyons says "the program

Bill Lyons says "the program is available citywide in Knoxville. It is a single stream system at $39 for six months, with pickup every two weeks. The 95 gallon container is supplied."

The program being curbside recycling, which will presumably include the new RecycleBank program through Waste Connections.

IWHJR's picture

Why Knoxville doesn't thrive

The RecycleBank is a good concept but I would prefer to have free curbside recycling - like other cities such as Nashville or Alcoa; Or cash would suffice but not points.

I am constantly suprised at how far behind Knoxville is in becoming a thriving, well managed metropolitan city.

bizgrrl's picture

free curbside recycling -

free curbside recycling - like other cities such as Nashville or Alcoa

Nothing's free in this world. Alcoa residents pay taxes for curbside recycling. Are you willing to pay higher taxes?

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Knox had "free" program previously

I know Knoxville has had "free" curbside recycling programs in the past, IWHJR. I had the service when I lived in the 4th & Gill community, from approximately 1987 through 1992. If I remember correctly, this was part of some pilot program offered in just a few city neighborhoods.

I had a fee-based recycling service, paid for through my homeowners association fee, even after I bought a condo out in the 'burbs (Powell).

In fact, I wasn't without curbside recycling in Knox County until about ten years ago, when I built our home in a more rural part of the same Powell community.

Ironically, it's harder for me to recycle today than it's ever been--and as part of a family of four, we generate more recyclables now than we ever did!

R. Neal's picture

WATE has more: Link...

WATE has more:

(link...)

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