User:RecycleSmartAus/sandbox

RecycleSmart
RecycleSmart is a Sydney based startup company that rewards members for improving their recycling behaviour. It does this by giving members points for good recycling behaviour which they can redeem at partnering retail stores or donate to non-for-profit organisations. The program is unique in that it measures waste contamination not the net weight of recycling. It implements an educational incentive scheme that provides personalised feedback to residents on the amount of waste contamination in their bins.

The company was founded in 2012 by Giorgio Baracchi and -. In 2013, RecycleSmart completed two trials in Lane Cove and Ashfield Council and is now working with Randwick City Council. It is also looking to expand into the commercial waste industry to minimize waste contamination with private business.

Business Model
We talk about the different services/parts of the program here.

Pilot Programs
In 2013, RecycleSmart conducted two trial programs with Lane Cove and Ashfield Council in Sydney In the Ashfield Council trial, RecycleSmart operated in a territory in Haberfield consisting of 1,500 households.

According to their own data, there was a 20% sign up rate to the program with visual bin audits showing a 50% reduction in mistakes in general waste bins disposal and a 33% reduction in recycling bins among participants [Refer to our report]. At the conclusion of the trial, Ashfield Council requested an independent assessment by A.Prince Consulting of 10 bins belonging to residents who had participated in the initiative for at least two months. The bin audit revealed a significant reduction in waste contamination in relation to contamination rates in Haberfield compared with the last audit undertaken by Ashfield Council in April 2011. In 2013, the contamination rate in the yellow stream was 74% lower and the recyclable material in the red stream was 58% lower compared to the Council’s audit in 2011 [Need original report].

In the Lane Cove Council trial there was a trial population of 500 households with a participation rate of 25% and an overall 10% improvement of recycling rates [Reference to our report].

There was no independent assessment into this data. RecycleSmart currently has no active councils.

Partners
ReycleSmart retail partners include Woolworths group, The Iconic and Bocashi.Non-for profit organizations include World Wildlife Fund and OzHarvet. Affiliate partners include Mobile Muster.

Similar Initiatives
In Australia, GreenMoney runs a similar program rewarding members with discounts from local businesses instead of major retailers and measures recycling weight not waste contamination. Companies outside of Australia also have a similar business models like Recyclebank in the United States, Brazilian startup Cidade Viva, and French startup CitéGreen.

Relevant Links
Facebook Twitter Linked In RecycleSmart Challenge App