Brookhaven Implements New Recycling Rewards Program

On Aug. 2, Brookhaven became the first municipality in the state to promote a recycling rewards program, encouraging more residents to curb their plastics and papers.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, along with Councilmen Tim Mazzei and Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld gathered Blue Point residents on Monday morning to introduce Recyclebank, a New York City-based company that promotes recycling for rewards.

Recycling in Brookhaven, and in general, has been down the past 10 years, Lesko said, and the town is looking to improve those numbers. “We are taking our efforts to the next level by partnering with Recyclebank, which will offer incentives to residents to increase their household recycling,” he said.

By recycling, Lesko said the town could save up to $1 million in a year and the average family can save approximately $100 a year through the rewards program, all while protecting the environment.

Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld also spoke highly of the program. “Recyclebank coming to Brookhaven is the epitome of thinking globally and acting locally,” he said. “It helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions.”

So how does it work? First, residents need to go to the Recyclebank website and sign up for a free account. After verifying their home address, residents can start to earn points by recycling and reporting it to the website.

Recyclebank Northeast Vice President Beth Kean-Waddell said the program, created in 2005, is similar to a frequent flyer program, except residents earn points by being more “green.”

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” Kean-Waddell said. “It’s a win for the town because every time they divert recyclables from the incinerator, they can make money. It’s a win for residents because they get to earn points and use them for discounts and coupons from hundreds of contributors.”

Contributing businesses include , , , Blue Point Brewery and . Residents can use points to get discounts off a meal or earn a free admission. A number of national companies also contribute to Recyclebank, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy's.

Recyclebank’s goal is to increase incentives for people to recycle to ultimately create a world with no waste. Though a lofty goal, the Recyclebank program is already implemented in 28 states and the United Kingdom, reaching about 2.5 million households.

Blue Point resident Christine Fedorys said she has been recycling for years and that she is really excited about the Recyclebank program.

“I think it’s very important because we want to take care of our Earth and the only way we can do that is recycling, it’s so simple,” she said. “I love the point system. It not only gives incentive, but it teaches.”

The Recyclebank website offers helpful tips for residents to use when recycling certain products and also guides residents in identifying what is actually recyclable.

Recyclebank also has an app for the iPhone or other smartphone, so residents can’t forget to recycle or even go out of their way to report what they’ve recycled.