Wilmington offers prizes as recycling incentive

Wilmington, Delaware is hoping the possibility of winning gift cards or other prizes will encourage people to recycle more – and get more people to recycle.

The city is looking to increase existing recycling efforts, which currently divert about 25-percent of curbside trash out of landfills and into recycling.  Today through October 31st, the Wilmington and Recyclebank Sweepstakes will take the everyday task of recycling and turn it into a contest for winning valuable prizes

One grand prize winner will receive a year’s worth of free groceries, estimated at $5,000.

Wilmington began a partnership with Recyclebank in 2007, and since then the city has recycled more than 30,000 tons of material.  Recyclebank offers rewards for citizens who take “green actions” with discounts and deals. 

“The success of Wilmington’s longstanding partnership with Recyclebank exemplifies the collective impact we can have in our communities by taking small, everyday green actions – all while earning great rewards from your favorite local and national businesses,” Recyclebank Vice President Robert Milligan said.

Prizes will be awarded monthly, including DART First State transit passes, Target gift cards and quantities of free groceries.  Participants earn points each time their recyclables are collected from their containers, by recommending others to join the program, or by visiting the website to complete an environmentally-related educational program.  A grant from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources partially funds the sweepstakes program.

Mayor James Baker called it a “win-win” opportunity for Wilmington residents.  “While it is obviously fun to compete for some truly outstanding prizes, the real winner is the  entire Wilmington community,” Baker said.  “By recycling at every opportunity, each of us is helping to build a greener, more sustainable environment for future generations.”

Citizens may sign up online at recyclebank.com or by calling 1-888-727-2978.  The competition is open to all city residents who currently have curbside trash and recycling collection as well as residents in single family or multi-family homes of four units or fewer who would like to add recycling to their collection schedule.