Cash for Trash: Paid to Recycle Rolls Out in Southbridge, Massachusetts

By Pam Gaulin, published Sep 28, 2007
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SOUTHBRIDGE, MA - Southbridge is the first local Massachusetts community that will experience the new rewards for recycling program, through Recycle Bank, according to Casella Management. The new program is scheduled to start on October 1, 2007. The recycle bins were delivered this week.

Changes to the Recycling Program

With the new system residents of Southbridge, MA. will see the following changes:

1. Residents who recycle will see real, monetary benefits for their efforts.
2. Recycling will be bi-weekly instead of weekly.
3. Residents no longer have to sort their paper and cardboard from their glass and plastic. The new recycling program is a no-sort system. All recyclables can be mixed together.
4. New recycling bins will be delivered.
5. The recycling bins are huge. They hold 96 gallons to be exact.

How Does Recycle Bank Work?

The recycled materials collected from a resident's bin is scanned and weighed. Each household gets credit for their recycling. A household can earn up $35 a month, with a maximum yearly benefit maximum of $420 in discount coupons.

Residents will receive a credit to participating stores based on the amount of recycling they do. Each recycling bin has an identification tag that is registered to a household. On recycling day, the scale on the recycling truck weighs the amount of recycled material. That amount directly translates into "RecycleBank Dollars."

Residents can then check their online Recycle Bank account at www.recyclebank.com or by calling 888.rb.pays.u. Discount coupons are then generated, and according to Casella Waste Services, can be used at local grocery stores, hardware stores and restaurants.

Those RecycleBank Dollars can then be used to purchase items from more than 250 participating national and local retailers. Most of the retailers listed were online businesses. Shaw's Supermarket, Dunkin' Donuts, and Rite Aid are the most practical retailer on the list.

Also on the list: Borders, Stonyfield Farm, Staples, and The Body Shop.

Non-Sort System Makes It Easier to Recycle

Cash for Trash: Paid to Recycle Rolls Out in Southbridge, Massachusetts
Date: September 28, 2007
Location:
Southbridge, MA  USA
Cash for Trash: Paid to Recycle Rolls Out in Southbridge, Massachusetts

The RecycleBank logo on the side of the new recycling bin.

Credit: P. Gaulin

Copyright: P. Gaulin

Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
 
 
Interesting.

Posted on 09/30/2007 at 11:09:00 AM

 
Concerned - I never said it was a scam. I think recycling rocks! I just don't think that anyone should have to pay to be in a "rewards" program. And if they do, the details should be crystal clear up front. Also, the price after the six months was not printed on any material I received - I had to call to get that info. Most people may not take that extra step to call. I am happy that I finally have a recycling bin that is big enough for all of our recycled materials.

Posted on 09/29/2007 at 11:09:00 AM

 
this is not a scam. its a real program that will improve recycling. paying to take care of the environment is not a scam

Posted on 09/29/2007 at 9:09:00 AM

 
Just to clarify: they will still pick up our recycling after the six months, we just can't continue in the rewards program. I don't think you should have to pay a fee to enjoy a "reward."

Posted on 09/29/2007 at 8:09:00 AM

 
I will NEVER pay to belong to a recycling program. They better find other ways to make their money or their program will go in the dumpster.

Posted on 09/29/2007 at 6:09:00 AM

 
I live in such a small area I don't see anything like this happening for many, MANY years but I know in larger areas the recycling market can be quite lucrative for some people. Those people arne't usually the ones who are actually recycling. In Oregon all of our pop cans have a nickle deposit so when you buy a 12 pack it costs $0.60 more and you can return the cans for the nickle...if they aren't crushed, faded, dirty, and so on and only to a place that sells that type of soda. At the end of the month I find I often have to go to 3-4 stores to return pop cans to get my deposits back. The recycling money is great for little kids for their "allowance" and many street bums pick through trash to get cans to make a few bucks. So, I'm not sure if it is a help of hinderance in the long run.

Posted on 09/28/2007 at 3:09:00 PM

 
What a scam.

Posted on 09/28/2007 at 3:09:00 PM

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