The recycling rewards program, GreenMoney, was formally launched on 19 June 2012. “I am an avid fan of the GreenMoney project because it ticks all the outcome boxes that have befuddled environment public policy for years…” Catherine Cusack, member for Coogee, wrote in her Hansard entry in the Parliament of New South Wales. Read her understanding and endorsement of the program in full.
GreenMoney would like Australia to know that while the NSW government, the packaging industry and beverages industry have been immersed in their squabbling about the proposed container deposit scheme, it has been quietly promoting recycling in NSW with its rewards program.
The program hands out points for every kilo recycled by residents who sign up. The points are then redeemed for products or services – a meal out, Maccas, sports equipment, a free movie – from local participating businesses. More than 60 business have registered with GreenMoney at Randwick City Council. The GreenMoney program also operates in the City of Melbourne.
Randwick City Mayor, Scott Nash, explained Randwick City Cpuncil’s ongoing commitment to the program, "We saw more than 5000 residents and households in Randwick City take part in the trial [March 2012 to March 2014], spending 12,000 reward vouchers and generating over $470,000 in local spending – that alone is a fantastic result."
The packaging association and NSW Environment Protection Authority recently funded an evaluation of the GreenMoney program titled, 'Like frequent flyer points for recycling'. The report, released in October 2014, found that 72% of households involved in the program have changed their behaviour and are recycling more. This is reflected in a 10.4% increase in the amount households are recycling in their yellow lidded bin.
GreenMoney spokesperson, Suzanna Kukulovski, noted, 'GreenMoney members can save around $240 each year just by recycling at home. With the cash-for-cans scheme, households would need to drop off 2,400 cans or bottles per year, that's around 46 beverages consumed each week, or 6.6 a day.”
This is how it works:
