Pennsylvania city introduces Recyclebank to residents

The city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in partnership with Houston-based Waste Management Inc., has announced the launch of Recyclebank, an education and incentives platform designed to help residents minimize waste and improve recycling habits.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste Manager Ann Saurman, Recyclebank CEO Javier Flaim, Waste Management Market Administrator Linda Emery and recycling mascot Single Stream Scottie made the announcement in city council chambers on America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, 2016.  

The Recyclebank program will reward Allentown residents for their recycling efforts with points that can be redeemed for deals and discounts at participating local and national merchants. Ahart’s Market; Papa John’s Pizza locations on 13th Street and Lehigh Street; Rita’s locations at Tilghman Street, Union Boulevard and West Emaus Avenue; Waffle House on Airport Road; and Mountainville Bowling Center are among a growing list of local participants. Residents also can redeem points at major retailers and national brands, such as Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick’s Sporting Goods and AMC Theatres as well as for magazine subscriptions such as People, Entertainment Weekly, Time and New York Magazine.

"The prospect of encouraging our residents to recycle more by offering tangible returns for their eco-conscious actions is very exciting," said Pawlowski. "I'm certain that by embracing this type of win-win arrangement, we're taking a valuable step towards a sustainable future."

The program will be accessible to more than 36,600 Allentown residents, who can potentially earn hundreds of dollars in rewards each year for their recycling efforts, according to a news release announcing the programs launch.

"We are thrilled to partner with the city of Allentown," said Javier Flaim, CEO of Recyclebank. "Over the years, we have successfully inspired sustainable behavior in more than 300 communities and are greatly looking forward to creating a positive impact on the city's recycling and waste management goals."

"We have witnessed firsthand Recyclebank's success in several cities and are confident that the program will soon deliver similar results in Allentown," said Emery.  “We are delighted to be a partner in the effort.”

Recyclebank, based in New York City, partners with communities and a variety of brands, leveraging its marketing-as-a-service (MaaS) platform using data, education and incentives to encourage more than 3 million members to develop better purchasing and disposal habits.

More information about the Allentown Recyclebank program is available at www.recyclebank.com.