Recycle and Win Big Prizes During the Wilmington & Recyclebank Sweepstakes from August 1 - October 31, 2012

Posted on  07/31/2012 3:07 pm

Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker and Public Works Commissioner Kash Srinivasan today announced the City of Wilmington’s latest greening initiative—the Wilmington & Recyclebank Sweepstakes. In partnership with Recyclebank, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green action with discounts and deals, this three-month promotional event is designed to encourage Wilmington residents to start recycling if they are not doing so already and to keep consistently recycling if they currently participate in the City’s Recyclebank program.

Wilmington hopes to see an increase in the City’s curbside recycling rate, which currently stands at 25%. This means that 25% of Wilmington’s total curbside trash stream is recycled instead of being disposed in a landfill. The City’s overall recycling rate is 35% when you take into account the yard waste, concrete and asphalt that is recycled annually instead of being deposited in a landfill.

Beginning August 1 and running through October 31, Wilmington residents who recycle will have a chance to win monthly prizes of $100 Target gift cards, FREE bus passes from DART, and FREE groceries. One lucky grand prize winner will receive FREE groceries for a year (valued at up to $5,000).

The monthly prizes and the grand prize will be awarded as follows:

• One Grand Prize winner –One (1) winner announced by Monday, November 5 will receive FREE groceries for a year valued at up to $5,000.

• Three 1st Prize monthly winners – One (1) winner will be announced each month by September 3, October 8, and November 5. Each winner will receive a DART transit pass valued at up to $864.

• Nine 2nd Prize monthly winners – Three (3) winners will be announced each month on September 3, October 8, and November 5. Each winner will receive FREE groceries for a month valued at up to $500.

• Thirteen 3rd Prize monthly winners—Five (5) winners will be announced on September 3, five (5) winners will be announced on October 8 and three (3) winners will be announced on November 5. Each winner will receive a $100 Target Gift Card.

• Winners will be notified by email and will be posted on the City’s website.

How to participate:

The sweepstakes is open to all Wilmington residents who currently have curbside trash and recycling collection and residents in single family or multiple family dwellings (4 units or less) who would like to add recycling to their collection schedule.
Residents who already recycle will be entered in the contest every time they set their recycling bin at the curbside to earn Recyclebank points (residents can confirm that their account is active by calling 888.727.2978). City of Wilmington residents who wish to sign up for the program can do so online at www.recyclebank.com or by calling 888.727.2978. Participants can earn additional contest entries every time they redeem their reward points, recommend friends to join the program, or complete a “green” learn-and-earn online activity at www.recyclebank.com.

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

“At Recyclebank, we are proud to partner with the City of Wilmington to encourage everyone in the community to be more eco-conscious through the Wilmington’s Recyclebank Rewards program,” said Robert Milligan, Vice President of Recyclebank. “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.”

Wilmington’s partnership with Recyclebank gives Wilmington residents a single-stream recycling program and the ability to earn points that are redeemed through Recyclebank for groceries, gift cards, merchandise and entertainment at hundreds of participating local and national merchants. Wilmington is proud to be the first city in the U.S. to adopt the rewards program citywide and reward its residents for their recycling efforts.

Since 2007, the City of Wilmington in partnership with Recyclebank, has recycled more than 30,000 tons of material to propel the city’s residential diversion rate to more than 25%—the amount of recyclable materials that are diverted away from landfills. The City currently saves about $76 for every ton of waste diverted from the landfill. And because every ton of waste recycled reduces future greenhouse gas emissions by two tons we are helping to keep the planet cool for future generations.

For more information about Wilmington’s Recyclebank Rewards Program and to participate in the Sweepstakes, please visit www.WilmingtonDE.gov or call 888-727-2978.

Partial funding for the Wilmington/Recyclebank Sweepstakes has been provided by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) through a statewide grant program that encourages local governments to begin recycling or enhance their existing program.

About Recyclebank

Recyclebank helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank is empowering individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and taking other environmentally-preferred actions. A Certified B Corporation, Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.