Dive Summary:
- A rewards-based recycling program has led Colonial Heights, Va., to increase its recycling rate to over 61% during the span of one year.
- The town replaced 96-gallon trash receptacles with smaller containers measuring 68 gallons and gave households 96-gallon recycling smart bins, which granted residents points for recycling and directly caused the recycling rate to double.
- The implementation of this program created a $250,000 savings for the city during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
From the article:
... Through contracts with Container First Services and TFC Recycling, the city and CVWMA worked together to also educate residents on recycling.
In addition to adjusting the sizes of the trash and recycling carts, the city implemented an incentive program to reward residents for recycling. Through the "Recycling Perks" program residents can receive points each time they set out their recycling cart. ...