Recycle that Milk Carton: You Could Earn a Game of Bowling or a Haircut

Recycle and get rewarded.

Easy enough, right?

Every Rochester Hills homeowner has a RecycleBank account; RecycleBank is a program that works with Republic Services, the city's waste hauler, to keep track of how much a homeowner recycles and give rewards in the form of coupons and gift cards.

But according to statistics, less than three-fourths of homeowners have activated their accounts, said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett.

"We would like to see that number go up," said Barnett. "It doesn't cost anything."

Although Barnett said about 85 percent of homeowners recycle, fewer than 70 percent get rewards for their recycling efforts.

Here's a short guide to RecycleBank — and instructions on how to get started:

What is it? RecycleBank partners with cities and waste haulers to reward households for recycling. Households earn RecycleBank Points that may be redeemed at more than 1,500 local and national businesses.

How it works: For every pound recycled, a participant earns 2.5 RecycleBank points. Typically, a week's worth of recyclables weighs between 25 and 40 pounds.

What can you get? Groceries, haircuts and free yoga, to start. And there are lots of local options. Recent RecycleBank deals included:

• $2 off a purchase of $10 or more at (20 points)
• $5 off any ski service at (50 points)
• A 20 percent off coupon at (50 points)
• One free game at (75 points)
• $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at or (100 points)
• A free haircut with a color service at (200 points)
• A $10 gift card to or or (2,500 points)

How do I register? All homeowners received a flier with login and registration information when they received the carts in 2009. If you've lost yours or forgotten your password, go to recyclebank.com for information on getting started.