Smart+Trash+Cans

[[image:recyclebank.gif]]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/1001-smart_trash_cans.htm http://www.recyclebank.com/

__Description.__ An incentive-based recycling program started in 2006 by a new company called Recycle Bank in Philidelphia. They provide customers with recycling bins fitted with RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) chips that enable specially designed garbage trucks to credit each household for the weight of material it recycles. Each week you can go on-line, find out how much you've recycled and collect Recycle Bank Dollars redeemable for a variety of rewards, such as Starbucks Rewards Card gift cards and free movie passes. The majority of awards offered are discount coupons at local and national retailers. Points also can be given to charity. Customers do not pay anything to participate. As well as allowing users to login and check how many points they've earned. The Recycle Bank website also gives useful information about how the process works, what items can/cannot be recycled, the benefits of recycling and has a page of frequently asked questions to address user concerns.

__Insights__
 * A completely new way of encouraging recycling by making it fun, interactive and rewarding
 * Will reduce amount of waste dumped in landfills
 * Allows users to interact between the website and the real work, applying what they learn on the site to a real-life situation
 * This program may even encourage people to go out into parks or other public places and pick up litter there to get more points
 * The website itself is easy to use and understand and is efficient in getting the messages across. This will appeal to the diverse demographic of the city.
 * The website is accessible to a wide audience because it is bi-lingual
 * However, more work needs to be done to make it accessible for persons with disabilities - for example adding alternate text for the images
 * This system could easily be applied to any major city across North America, Europe and anywhere else that already has some sort of basic curbside recycling program in effect
 * One concern that comes to mind is that this program may encourage the creation of more waste just so that people can earn more points more quickly