L.A. Partnering with RecycleBank

The city of Los Angeles is the latest city to partner with RecycleBank on its recycling-for-reward program.

A RecycleBank pilot program will be introduced in 15,000 single family houses in two areas of Los Angeles.

“The city of Los Angeles has worked tirelessly to ensure that recycling is accessible to every single resident,” says Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “Los Angeles' ambitious environmental agenda is one of the reasons why we already recycle more than any other big city in America and why we will be the cleanest, greenest big city in America. To reach our goal of zero waste, we are building innovative partnerships that will employ outside resources. We are proud to be the biggest city to work with RecycleBank, since the program will motivate residents to recycle more and will pump money directly back into the local economy.”

The pilot program will run for 12 months, and will be studied by the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Sanitation, which implements the city’s solid waste recycling and collection programs. The city will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the program in raising its 65-percent diversion rate of residential and commercial waste, the highest rate out of the nation’s ten largest cities. No money from the city's general fund will pay for the pilot program.

Citywide, the residential Blue Bin recycling program collects an average of 4,600 tons of recyclables every week.