Items accepted by RecycleBankNewspaperPlastics 1-7Junk mailCardboardWhite paperAluminumTinMagazinesSource: Allied Waste of Chattanooga
Fort Oglethorpe is considering adopting a recycling program that would reward residents for going green.
Mayor Ronnie Cobb said the city is considering participating in the RecycleBank program and recently saw a presentation from the New York-based company.
"It's a win-win for us," Mr. Cobb said. "We just have to look at what kind of participation we would have."
RecycleBank spokeswoman Melody Serafino compared the program to hotel rewards points or frequent flier miles. Recycling bins would be equipped with wireless transmitters that would track pounds of recylables by street or neighborhood and credit participants with points.
"It's one of the easiest ways that anyone can go green," Ms. Serafino said.
To make money, the program factors in what the city would have spent to dump the recyclables in a landfill and halves what the landfill would have charged, according to Ms. Serafino. About 300 communities in 25 states already are enrolled.
Joe Salamone, the general manager of Allied Waste of Chattanooga, said the program begins in unincorporated parts of Walker, Catoosa and Hamilton counties on April 19. Allied has spent about $1 million getting equipment ready to administer the program.
He said 20 pounds of recyclables earn 50 points, which equates to about a $5 value through coupons and discounts at various vendors. It would probably be July before Allied is ready for Fort Oglethorpe to join.
Mr. Cobb said participants could be charged a $5 or $6 fee for participating, but many of the details are still on the drawing board.
Mr. Cobb said the city ended its previous recycling program about six years ago because of a lack of participation, but he expects about 60 percent participation under RecycleBank.
Council member Johnnie Smith said the old system used small, divided containers that may have proved its downfall. He's optimistic but concerned that bigger containers might be too heavy for some seniors.
"It sounded pretty good, but we'll have to discuss it more," Mr. Smith said.