Recycling prevails as one of Palm Coast’s most popular, environmentally effective community programs, and 11 active recyclers are the latest winners in the quarterly drawings for the city’s Waste Pro Rewards Program. (Waste Pro is the city’s trash and recycling contractor.)
Gift cards valued at $25 were awarded to Linda Clyde, Robert Perham, Alice Hernandez, Jack Griffith, James Darlington, Christopher Metz, Stephen Kayworth, Charles Modica, Jim Harnish, James Dunton and Ann Paris. The winners were selected randomly from all participants of the Rewards Program. Participants’ recycling bins may, with the participants’ agreement, be tagged with a bar code that gets scanned when the recycling is picked up, thus qualifying participants for the rewards program.
The level of recycling in Palm Coast has grown dramatically since the city joined the Waste Pro Rewards Program in June 2012, said Dianne Torino, the city’s contracts and risk manager. In the past two years, residents have recycled over 7,918 tons of bottles, paper, magazines, glass jars, plastic containers, newspapers, junk mail, cereal boxes, phone books and flattened cardboard.
Residents who sign up for the Rewards Program earn special coupon offers on a regular basis and also qualify for larger prizes, with greater rewards given for higher recycling participation. Many local businesses offer discounts, also providing them an opportunity to promote their businesses with no participation cost. To sign up, Palm Coast residents can call 888/234-8211 or sign up at www.wasteprorewards.com.
“The City of Palm Coast is committed to environmental stewardship, and this program is one easy way for residents to make a big difference,” Torino said.
Also, residents are reminded to use the City’s Doorstep Hazardous Waste collection program when they need to dispose of fluorescent light bulbs, used motor oils or antifreeze, paints and supplies, pool and household chemicals, household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers or household batteries. There is no additional charge for this service. Call Waste Pro at 386/586-0800 to schedule a pickup.
Following the posting of this story Thursday, several readers complained in comments on Facebook that their bins were not getting scanned. Torino provided the following explanation Friday (emphasis added):
Every residential address in the City was delivered a blue recycle bin in May of 2012 prior to the beginning of the Recycle Rewards Program on June 1st of that year. On each recycle bin there is an RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification Chip) affixed to the side. Every time the recycle bin is placed at the curb, it is electronically read by a device on the inside of the truck. Nobody will actually go out and scan the bin. Each resident that wishes to partake in the program needs to contact Waste Pro Rewards to register. They will be asked to provide the RFID chip number and their name so that they are personally tied to the bin at that address.
There are three levels of participation.
Level 1 – Anyone who registers may receive coupons even if they choose not to recycle. Each resident has earned this benefit because the program cost is included in their solid waste fee on their monthly utility bill.
Level 2 – Anyone who recycles at least once every month will earn higher value coupons than those in Level 1. .
Level 3 – Anyone who participates at level two is eligible for the Quarterly drawings for higher level rewards such as gift cards to local and national retailers. Each time a resident recycles, their name is tossed into the proverbial “electronic hat” in the Waste Pro Rewards computer system. The more time they recycle, the higher chance of their name being drawn for the quarterly rewards.
For more information, call Palm Coast Customer Service at 386/986-2360, or see the Q&A below.
Q&A On Recycling and Waste Pro’s Programs
Mike says
I guess this makes up for the fact of how fast they drive up the street on the wrong side
Rick says
I was not aware of this wrong side of the road driving Mike, but I will give them credit for swiftly picking up & emptying trash containers then moving right along on to the next. Maybe it’s due to my neighborhood’s cool & early morning pick up schedule. I never sseem to cross paths with them later on in these toasty mid-days.
Mike says
Rick, they pick up my house early at 7-8 AM and everyday I need to look to see which side of the road they are on, they nearly hit my elderly nieghbor last month. I think swiftly emtying the containers will not matter when they hit or kill someone for how fast they drive and cross into the opposite lane of traffic. I spoke to my driver awhile back about it, he stated “they do not get paid by the hour, but rather a day rate” so it seems they have to work as fast as possible to make a decent hourly rate.
fruitcake says
What a great honor!
Roberta says
As fast as the lone person on the recycling truck drives, arrives, gathers and jumps back into truck to speed onto the next stop, when is there time to scan anything? Driver (lone worker) flashes to each stop, is out of the truck before it stops, dumps the recycling bin, jumps back into truck and is off to the next. When does the scanning happen?
Carl says
There should be a decrease in price , we should demand it , do you know how much money they must make on scrap metal on us , if they refuse by a can crusher and a box of hefty bags and save cans and cash them in yourself use money towards water and garbage bill , its a racket !
Mike says
Sorry carl but have you seen the price of metal? By the time they could seperate it all (manpower) they would be in the red. We used to use a special box just for our scrap metal at my business, we would make a decent buck each month, prices have dropped and we are lucky now if it covers the cost to have the container picked up. There are so many EPA rules and regulations in the body shop business that I can only imangine what the trash industrty must have to pay and go through.
Since 1987 says
I agree with Carl. Don’t send me coupons, how about a credit each month to my utility bill!