BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Waste Management Inc. is rolling out a new recycling incentive program in Brevard County, but it may come with an added cost if some cities sign on.
The company has started offering incentives through another company, Recycle Bank, which provides a point reward system similar to what is used by credit card companies.
The company will give points to homeowners based on the amount of recyclable materials collected in neighborhoods or on pick-up routes. The more pounds of recyclable waste, the more points homeowners will receive. Those points can then be redeemed for coupons or gift cards to stores and restaurants.
Indian Harbour Beach residents are already eligible for the program.
"I’ll be there for my card,” said Ann Gardner, of Indian Harbour Beach. "I think it's a wonderful idea.”
But in some cities like Melbourne and Palm Bay, residents could see an increase of as much as 30 cents a month for their garbage collection. The cities must approve the changes before residents there can join the program.
"I'd like to see something back, because we've recycled all these years,” said Palm Bay resident Mark Williams.
Milo Zonka, of Waste Management, said there is a cost to running the program. Zonka said the company has looked at different scenarios where the rewards program could pay customers much more than the cost of joining it.
"You can actually get rewards that total over $150 a year. So, it can literally pay for your garbage bill for the year if you take full advantage of the program,” Zonka said.
The program is not being offered to residents of unincorporated Brevard County at this time because the garbage collection contract is about to come back for re-bid.
WFTV
