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Pioneering council rewards keen recyclers
The UK's first pilot scheme to reward households for recycling mixed waste has been launched. Pioneering residents in Windsor and Maidenhead will be able to pocket up to an average of £130 a year in vouchers - simply by putting paper, cardboard, plastic,
The RecycleBank scheme will see 3,750 households in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead earn rewards for money off at shops such as Marks & Spencer.
Recycling will become much easier and more rewarding for residents as their separate boxes will be replaced by one large blue bin in which they can place their mixed recycled waste. RecycleBank Points will be awarded based on the amount of waste recycled, and then redeemed for money off goods and services at local shops, restaurants and attractions, or donated to charities.
As an added incentive, residents who activate their account before December 31 will benefit from a 300 Point bonus and then triple earnings on any Points earned.
The gap between national recycling levels and that of our European neighbours is closing. With increased pressure on local authorities to meet stringent environmental targets, mixed recycling schemes are considered the best way forward to increase greater resident participation and the collection of good quality materials at the kerbside.
Run in partnership by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, RecycleBank and Veolia Environmental Services, this ground breaking pilot scheme uses the carrot rather than the stick to encourage residents to recycle. Leading sponsor and reward partner, Marks & Spencer, has been involved in the UK scheme from the outset as part of its Plan A, 100 point eco-plan.
More than 50 per cent of the 2,800 residents invited to participate in the green waste pilot of the RecycleBank programme in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead back in June, had activated their accounts in just two months, redeeming an average of £20 of rewards.
Cllr Liam Maxwell, the Royal Borough's Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said: "We are making recycling much easier and rewarding our residents to maximise participation and reduce landfill. The appetite to recycle more is clearly there and using the carrot, not the stick, is our way of energising the community and bringing meaningful benefits to households and local businesses. The RecycleBank scheme is a pioneering step forward. We are proud to be the first in the UK and hope that other local authorities will follow our approach across the country."
There is no change to the normal waste collection routine for Windsor and Maidenhead residents. Households in the mixed recycling pilot scheme will just need to empty their recyclable materials into the blue bin and put it out for collection. There is no charge to householders for the RecycleBank scheme.
Residents activate and view their RecycleBank account on RecycleBank's website
http://www.RecycleBank.com.
Example Voucher: Marks & Spencer
Households can swap 150 RecycleBank Points for a £5 voucher to use with their next purchase of £25 or more on food and 130 RecycleBank Points for a £5 voucher to use with their next purchase of £35 or more on clothing, home or beauty spend at M&S stores.
