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Posted on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.

Ann Arbor and RecycleBank launch event at Cobblestone Farm Sept. 1

By Nancy Stone

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The City of Ann Arbor’s partnership with RecycleBank® officially begins Sept. 1 with a free community event at Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to learn firsthand about RecycleBank rewards and collect goodies from some of the participating rewards partners. Free activities will be available for children, including making a recycled-content bank. Details on the RecycleBank program and launch event are posted online.

RecycleBank is a rewards program that motivates people to take greener actions, like household recycling, by rewarding them with points that are redeemable for benefits from local and national retailers, restaurants, pharmacies, grocers, and more. This rewards-for-recycling program follows Ann Arbor’s switch to single-stream recycling in July, in which all recyclable materials go into one recycling cart. Ann Arbor’s expanded recycling program—combined with RecycleBank—are in place to help make recycling easier for residents and to reward them for being environmental stewards.

City residents in single-family and duplex homes received information in the mail during August with instructions on setting up their RecycleBank accounts. Eligible residents can sign up online at www.recyclebank.com or via phone at 866-563-0114.

Starting Sept. 1, participating residents will earn RecycleBank Points based on the weight of recycled materials collected along their neighborhood route. Residents can then check their points online and “shop” for rewards from more than 20 categories ranging from apparel to automotive, restaurants, sports and recreation, food and grocery, health and beauty, electronics and more.

Hundreds of businesses participate in the RecycleBank rewards program, and many of Ann Arbor’s RecycleBank rewards are from locally owned businesses. Typical RecycleBank rewards include discount coupons, 2-for-1 purchase options, cash value certificates, free entry to the local Drop-Off Station, and gift cards. Participants may also choose to donate their points to RecycleBank’s Green Schools Program, which helps provide educational grants to local schools. Ann Arbor’s initial RecycleBank program is offered to residents in single-family and duplex homes; the city is also working with RecycleBank to develop a new, innovative approach to allow apartment complexes and businesses to participate at a later date.

Participating rewards partners that will be bringing free samples and goodies as part of the community launch event at Cobblestone Farm include: Peoples Food Co-op, Silvio’s Organic Pizza, 10,000 Villages, Cottage Inn, Stonyfield Yogurt, Arbor Farms, and Whole Foods. The City of Ann Arbor, RecycleBank, Recycle Ann Arbor, and the Scrap Box will also participate with information booths and activities.

Nancy Stone is the Communications Liaison for Public Services at the City of Ann Arbor. She can be reached at nstone@a2gov.org. Please visit www.a2gov.org for more information on local environmental topics including recycling, composting, water conservation, and choices for green living.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County’s Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.

Comments

arborani

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:59 a.m.

Please Note: I received my "code" by mail, and checked out the RecycleBank site. Be aware that in order to register, you MUST submit a cell phone number, not a land line. Before you bite, be sure to link into the "Terms and Conditions" statement, where the reason for this becomes apparent. Your registration constitutes agreement to these terms, which allow not only RecycleBank, but any and all of its present--and future--affiliates to send presumably unlimited commercial text messages to your cell--data mining, pure and simple. (You are allowed to text a "STOP" message, which then deletes you from the Rewards program.) If you find this a reasonable tradeoff for the Rewards program, mazeltov. I chose not to register.

millermaple

Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 5:22 a.m.

mid-day Wednesday, that's really great timing for people who have to be at work! how typical of A2, most of us must work full time + in order to pay our exorbitant taxes & foot the bill for this program.