A recycling bin waits for pickup the day before Atlanta residents can start earning incentives.

Atlanta’s new recycling incentives program is simple. A city truck picks up your recycling; then, if you’re signed up, you get points you can redeem for up to $300 a year in freebies and coupons.

The program is managed by Virginia-based Recycling Perks. The city signed a 3-year, $345,600 contract with the company earlier this year, and residents can start earning points on Sept. 8.

“Research has demonstrated that carrots are often more effective than sticks, and the Recycling Perks program is a great carrot,” says Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Atlanta’s Director of Sustainability.

She says the incentives program is intended to boost the city’s recycling numbers, but that it’s also meant to be fun. “If you are recycling, why shouldn't you get the occasional gift card to go enjoy a nice meal out on the town?” she asks.

While those gift cards might be nice, they’re part of the city’s bigger plan to divert more waste from landfills. Currently, Atlanta diverts about 30% of the waste created within its city limits. Benfield says, the city wants that number to be 90%.

That’s because landfills aren’t great for the environment. They produce methane--a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. “Environmentally, it makes sense that we’re recycling,” Benfield says. “And there’s a strong economic argument for recycling. You’re getting products that are being repurposed and reused, and can be a great way to generate jobs.”

Those are perks any city can get behind.