You’ve heard the line, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure”, but did you know that you can actually make some cash off your trash?
According to an article in USA Today, more Americans are being paid to save energy and recycle thanks to a growing number of private and public programs that are offering everything from gift cards to cupcakes for for eco-friendly behavior.
“We definitely see this as a trend,” Jennifer Berry , spokeswoman for of Earth 911, an Arizona-based group that runs a the largest U.S. recycling database, told USA Today. “When you give people a reward for positive behavior, they’re more likely to participate.”
According to the article by Wendy Koch, who is on her own personal crusade to build the most eco-friendly home her budget allows, some U.S. cities are partnering with other cities and government agencies to give people reward points based on how much they recycle.
For example, register your house with Earth Aid and earn reward points for energy conservation. Points can be redeemed at local and, soon, national stores.
CVS/pharmacy started giving customers $1 back for every four times they skipped bagging their items in a plastic bag, and used their own reusable bag instead. Many grocery stores – including Whole Foods and Shaws – offers discounts for every reusable bag 5 cents for every resuable bag use to carry their purchases.
While turning trash into cash is a great way to earn a few extra bucks, sites like Swaptree ensure your ‘trash’ becomes someone else’s ‘treasure’ without a drive to the dump.
Readers: What do you think of these kind of incentives? Are you motivate by money to recycle? Know of a few programs in your area that offers credits and rewards for recycling? Let us know!
Swap.com Mobile is a free iPhone is app that lets you scan items into your HAVE and WANT lists, manage your account, see what you can get for your stuff, and participate in swaps.
I don’t think anyone should need incentive to recycle. How hard is it to be plastic bottles in one bin, and paper in another? I think it’s great that companies are offering incentives as a way to get people involved, but is it really necessary?
It would be awesome if everyone was just inherently motivated to recycle as much as possible but I think it’s just a reality that not everyone is going to do it. And there are several reasons for this — some legitimate and some just due to laziness.
So I think that incentives to motivate more recycling are great! And saving money is one of the best motivators out there.
One interesting example I’ve heard of is certain towns that make people pay for the amount of trash that is picked up by the trash collection. Therefore if you separate your recyclables out of your trash, you save money because you have less trash.