Eight weeks after the scheme was launched, 55% of households have activated their RecycleBank account and are earning points based on the amount of glass, plastic, cans and paper they put into their recycling bin.
Run in partnership with the council, Veolia and RecycleBank, the mixed recycling rewards scheme was launched at the beginning of September, following a three-month technology trial with green waste.
The council’s lead member for sustainability, Liam Maxwell, said: “We are witnessing first hand how much more successful using the carrot and not the stick can be to encourage residents to recycle.
“The majority of activated households have already redeemed rewards and are spending their vouchers in local shops and businesses.”
Rewards encourage residents to recycle by awarding them for every kilogram of material recycled.
Households receive 5.5 RecycleBank points per kilogram, which can then be swapped at more than 85 local and national retailers including grocers, restaurants, and leisure and entertainment facilities.