If you’re interested in going green, RecycleBank is an excellent way to earn rewards for something you’re probably already doing: recycling. There are four facets to the RecycleBank program: online signup, curbside recycling, electronics recycling, and the Gconomy Visa card. Here’s how to get started.
Online Signup
This is the fastest way to earn points. All you need to do is create an online account with RecycleBank. Go to RecycleBank and click “Sign In” at the top to register. Click “Register” and fill out your information. Once you’re done setting up your account, log in to the homepage, and your account should have been credited with 100 points just for signing up.
Curbside Recycling
In this part of the program, you place all of your recyclable materials into one cart for curbside pickup. These carts have an identification tag that is recorded by the recycling truck. The truck scans your identification tag as it weighs and recycles your materials. The weight is then converted into RecycleBank points (currently 2.5 points for every pound recycled). You can earn up to 450 points per month. Acceptable items for recycling are labeled on your cart.
Currently, this part of the program is available in select cities in the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia. If the curbside recycling program is not available in your area, consider contacting your local municipality about the RecycleBank program. You can also request service and RecycleBank will let you know when the program comes to your neighborhood.
If you live in the Twin Cities area and your recycling is serviced by Allied Waste, you’re probably already participating in this program, although you may not know it. To check, you can call Allied Waste customer service at one of the following numbers:
Allied Waste North Metro – (763) 784-2104
Allied Waste Southwest Metro – (952) 941-5174
Allied Waste East Metro – (651) 455-8634
The Allied Waste customer service representatives can tell you if you already have a RecycleBank cart and can transfer you to RecycleBank to activate your account. You also should have received an activation code by mail when you got your new cart (for me, this was in July, but I must have tossed the code).
My RecycleBank cart is blue with a numerical code printed on one side and a small round black piece on the other (I’m guessing this is the identification tag). When I called RecycleBank to activate my account, the customer service representative told me that I have earned 570 points since receiving my new cart in July! So it’s worth it to call just to see how much you’ve already earned even before activating your account.
Electronics Recycling
Another way to earn points is by sending in your used cell phones, laptops, or iPods/MP3 players to be refurbished or recycled. You simply choose which type of device you want to recycle, answer a few questions about the item, print a custom packing slip and mailing label, and send it in (for free!). Your account will be credited with points once your device is received and reviewed.
Gconomy Visa Card
If you’re interested in receiving rewards via credit card, you can apply for the Gconomy Visa card. With this card, you earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent when you use the card at participating RecycleBank partners, or earn 1 point for every dollar spent elsewhere. There is no annual fee and a low introductory APR on balance transfers. With every purchase, RecycleBank contributes to the Green Schools Program, which supports environmental education.
Redeeming Points
To redeem your points, click on “Get Rewards” and browse through the available rewards. Be sure to read all of the terms on the rewards before selecting them.
Current rewards include the following:
- 100 points – $10 of $25 or more at Arc’s Value Village
- 100 points – 50% off 1 item (max value $25) at Goodwill
- 100 points – Huggies: buy 1 baby wipes, get 1 free
- 100 points – Huggies: buy 1 diaper pack, get 1 free
- 100 points – Seventh Generation free all-purpose cleaner
- 50 points – Seventh Generation free natural dish liquid
- 75 points – Seventh Generation free chlorine-free baby wipes
- 20 points – $1 off any Coca-Cola, Dasani, or Powerade product
- 50 points – free Happy Baby food (many varieties)
- 40 points – $4 off $20 at CVS/pharmacy
Your turn: Are you signed up for the RecycleBank program? How have you redeemed your points?
What a great idea. I just hope the come out to St. Michael. We recycle tons of stuff and this would be great for us!
Do you know if the Huggies would include the Good Nights for older kids?
I’m not sure. You’d have to look at the terms of the coupon. I haven’t used my points for the Huggies coupons yet.
We have Recycebank and just so you know it does not ggo by you individually, it goes by your neighborhood. We recyle tons but live in an elderly community and they waste less and recycle less. So you do not get the total points that you should.
Michelle, I think in some communities/cities that’s true, but not in all of them.
We have recyclebank but I hve not used any points yet. I checked the other day and saw we have enough to receive a giftcard-just need to spend the time to redeem (or continue to let them add up). We recycle way more than we throw away so I love the program! Now they should give us points for the less garbage we have.
Does anyone on here know if Brooklyn Park is part of Recycle Bank? We do use Allied Waste, but I thought I had read in the Sun Post last year that Maple Grove was doing Recycle Bank, but not B. Park. Thanks.
LOVE recyclebank!! Have been using it for 6-9 months and it is so easy. The best deals seem to be $1 for every 10 points. So redeem 60 points for a “$6 off of $70″ coupon off at Cub Foods. Great deals! All for doing what we are already doing!
I guess I should have mentioned that Allied Waste is our garbage service, but Brooklyn Park uses Waste Management for recycling. Thought I had read that would change soon, but can’t remember what service I read they were changing over to. I’d love to get the coupons and such for recycling. We are excellent recyclers! We have the biggest container and it is always filled to the top come recycling week.
What section are the huggies under? I cannot find them but think I might like to redeem some points on them.
Terri, if you look at the A-Z listings under “H”, you should be able to find them.
Thanks so much Laura.
I just signed up but don’t know what to do next. Does someone bring out the recycle bin or what do we do? I can’t find the info. on the web site.
Does this only work with Allied Waste? I have Tennis in Woodbury, since its less expensive.
Christine, from what I understand, it’s only Allied Waste that is doing this program in MN. I could be wrong…
I’m hoping that Brooklyn Park is changing from Waste Management to Allied Waste for its recycling provider, so that our family can be in this program. We can choose our garbage hauler, but not the recycling provider.
I use RecycleBank and I donate the points to my son’s school, Hubert Olson Elementary. Olson’s PTA Live & Learn Green team filled out an application to be one of RecycleBank’s Green School grant recipients and now anyone can donate points to the school and they turn into cash! Way better than a coupon that I don’t need!
-J.O.
I sent in an Ipod shuffle months ago for recycling. Never heard a word about it despite two emails to RecyleBank. Be careful.
does anyone know if this is available in chesapeake, va??? thanks so much! I would love to use this system!