August 25, 2010 - Going Green with Recycle Bank

When I was a graduate student at Columbia University, I was at dinner with an old high school friend and we were discussing the state of New York City recycling. I thought: Why shouldn't people be rewarded for recycling? It was then that the idea for incentive-based recycling was born.

1.    When did you conceive the concept/vision of RecycleBank?

It was my interest in business and economics coupled with my concern for the environment that led me to the creation of RecycleBank.

When I was a graduate student at Columbia University, I was at dinner with an old high school friend and we were discussing the state of New York City recycling. I thought: Why shouldn't people be rewarded for recycling? It was then that the idea for incentive-based recycling was born.

RecycleBank has allowed me to hone my business and technology skills while building a company that does well by doing good.

2.    What have been your previous experiences working in the green industry?

I have always had an interest in social policy and clean, green living.  My initial foray into the green world was creating the first recycling program at my high school.

Prior to RecycleBank, I was a senior consultant at Deloitte Consulting, where I helped develop a business unit that provides pro bono consulting services to non-profit and charitable organizations.

3.    What is the goal of RecycleBank?

RecycleBank's goal is to show people the value in taking greener actions, whether through curbside recycling, reducing energy consumption or through electronic waste recycling.

RecycleBank currently services more than one million people across 26 states and the United Kingdom.

4.    If someone would like to add their city to the RecycleBank program, how would they go about that?

RecycleBank helps to stimulate local economies and saves communities' money by diverting waste from the landfill, making it a quadruple win for the city, households, local businesses, and the environment. Nearly half of rewards are redeemed with local businesses, driving revenue and customer loyalty for local participating businesses.

Residents interested in bringing RecycleBank to their cities should let their local city officials know.  RecycleBank was recognized for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. For more information about RecycleBank's municipal partnerships, visit http://corporate.recyclebank.com/municipalities.

5.    Does the RecycleBank program recycle their materials differently/more efficiently than other recycling programs?

It's important to know that RecycleBank does not own any trucks, facilities for processing (MRF's) or even process materials collected. We work with cities and haulers as the motivation to nudge behavior in a favorable manner for recycling-after all, everyone likes to be rewarded for doing good things. RecycleBank uses single-stream recycling, which means that all recyclables (paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and tin) can be placed in one container without sorting. The ease of no-sorting, coupled with rewards allows most RecycleBank communities to double, triple, even quadruple their recycling tonnages

6.    Do different types of recycling (paper, plastic, and metal) have different points associated with them?

No. Since all recyclables can be placed into one container, it is the total weight of the combined materials that is converted into points. One pound of recyclables is equivalent to 2.5 RecycleBank Points.

7.    If so which one is RecycleBank looking for the most? 

At RecycleBank, our goal is to divert all recyclable materials from the landfill.