City of Alcoa announced account setup procedures for its City residents and businesses participating in the newly launched RecycleBank program. RecycleBank, subcontractor to Waste Connections (the City’s recycling contractor), intended to distribute this information prior to startup of the program but was hampered by unanticipated problems with their recently updated website. City of Alcoa residents and small businesses who have subscribed to the RecycleBank service should set up their account using either the RecycleBank website or the toll-free RecycleBank telephone number (1-888-727-2978).

Subscribers may register their service using the RecycleBank website: www.recyclebank.com. Steps to follow:

• First, register as a user. Click the “Register” icon on the RecycleBank homepage.
• After a user’s account is registered and they are signed-in, click on the “Earn Points” icon. From there, select “Home Recycling.”
• On the “Home Recycling” page the subscriber will enter their address then request a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN may be received by mail or sent via text message to a mobile phone. If the customer selects the SMS / text message option, the PIN should be received within moments of sending the request.
• After the PIN is received, the customer returns to the “Home Recycling” page, enters their PIN, and Home Recycling is added to their account. Because recyclables collected from your residence / small business are electronically “tied” to your cart, any materials collected prior to activation of the Home Recycling service will still be credited to the customer’s account. However, subscribers must register and activate their account by February 15, 2011 to ensure that all weights are credited and to receive 300 Bonus Points (see below).
• New RecycleBank customers will receive 300 Bonus Points simply for activating their Home Recycling service. Those points should be posted within two to three weeks of activation.
• Subscribers may earn additional points by completing quizzes and viewing other information on the RecycleBank website.

Customers without internet access may use the toll-free number to set up their account and activate their Home Recycling service. However, the severe winter weather across the Midwest has resulted in the shutdown of several of RecycleBank’s call centers. RecycleBank officials ask the users of their toll-free customer care number to be patient as utility service is restored to these centers.

If a customer realizes they need more than one cart for the accumulation of their recyclables, a second cart may be added for an additional fee of $3 per month. Please contact the City of Alcoa at 865-380-4700 or 865-380-4800 to add a cart.

It’s not too late to sign up for ReycleBank. If you are a resident or small business owner who (1) lives / works inside the City of Alcoa and (2) receives solid waste collection using a 95-gallon rollout cart, you may subscribe for this service for only $3.00 per month (added to your utility bill). On average, RecycleBank customers earn $15 or more per month in discounts from national and regional RecycleBank vendors. For more information on the program, check www.recyclebank.com or call the City of Alcoa Public Works Department at either 865-380-4700 or 865-380-4800.