P&G Partnering Nationwide With RecycleBank

Proctor & Gamble’s (P&G) Future Friendly program is partnering nationwide with Recyclebank, which rewards people for recycling through a points system which they can use at over 3,000 businesses, including Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Old Navy. There are over one million participants in RecycleBank in 20 states. Future Friendly is described by P&G as a “program that empowers consumers to save energy, save water and reduce waste, using science, innovation and unique partnerships to achieve meaningful environmental impacts.”

RecycleBank participants earn 2.5 points for every pound of materials recycled in the supplied 96 gallon recycling bins. The recycled materials are weighed when picked up and points are put into an online account. According to Christian Huelsman, the RecycleBank community outreach intern, participants “can choose to donate their points to local schools to help with after-school programs and supplies.” In addition, participants can trade in select electronics and receive more points.

"P&G's Future Friendly is based on the premise that if we all take small steps together, we can collectively create a meaningful, measurable benefit for the environment," said Kirk Perry, Vice President, North America for P&G.  "The Recyclebank partnership's dual focus on educating the public and rewarding consumers for improving their environmental performance is a natural fit for Future Friendly's core mission."

"Recyclebank's mission is to motivate individuals and communities to realize a world where nothing is wasted," said Ian Yolles, Chief Sustainability Officer for Recyclebank.

P&G and Recyclebank partnered in Cincinnati. The RecycleBank program in Cincinnati was phased in gradually from October 2010 to February 2011. The partnership with the City of Cincinnati was a natural for P&G as the company is Cincinnati-based. Cincinnati is the largest Midwestern city to participate in RecycleBank.

Cincinnati invested $750,000 from federal stimulus money, or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The RecycleBank program will save the city an estimated $1 million in garbage collection and landfill costs. With RecycleBank, recyclables are collected every two weeks instead of every week. Residents of Cincinnati who registered with RecycleBank received a $5-off coupon from the P&G eStore. The City of Cincinnati’s website claims participants can save up to $200 annually, and in addition, generate revenues for participating businesses.

“We [at the city] are really happy about this new program. There’s so much potential to make something useful and profitable from things we’re getting rid of anyway,” said Cincinnati Office of Environmental Quality, Larry Falkin. “Even the guys who own the landfill are in on it. Jeff Rumpke knows he’s missing out on an opportunity by letting all those recyclables in the landfill.”