Smart Businesses Recycle is a pilot program to assist businesses to start a single-stream recycling service*, improve their recycling capabilities, and reduce waste through targeted incentives.
*Single-stream recycling is a service in which all recyclable materials are placed in a single bin and are not picked up or mixed with trash by the hauler before processing at a material recovery facility
Contact
Questions? Watch our short informational video from 10/13/22 or contact Project Manager, Alex Bazán:
- Call: 574-235-7568
- Email: abazan@southbendin.gov
This pilot program aims to…
INCREASE
the number of businesses
that recycle in South Bend.
ENCOURAGE
businesses to improve
their recycling capabilities.
REDUCE
the amount of materials that
are being sent to the landfill.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Apply to the program. Complete the application form.
2. The City reviews your application and contacts you. You confirm your participation in the program and sign a participation agreement with the City.
3. Participate in the program and apply to receive incentives. Incentives are the following (press the tab that best describes your business to view incentives):
Start a single-stream recycling service
50% discount up to $100 per month for 12 months to starting a single-stream recycling service
Downsize your container
Match one-time switch out fee associated with the downsize of a business’s trash dumpster
Purchase indoor recycling containers
Up to $300 reimbursement for businesses to purchase indoor recycling containers (operations and/or customer-facing)
Reduce your amount of waste
$500 bonus for businesses that downsize their trash dumpster and reduce the frequency of trash pickup and maintain the lower frequency of trash pickup for a minimum of 4 consecutive months
Attend the Zero Waste Ambassador training
A $25.00 gift card per employee up to 3 employees per business for taking the in-person Zero Waste Ambassador “train the trainer” training
Take the waste reduction challenge
Monthly waste reduction challenges with giveaways and a social media shoutout!
Reduce your amount of waste
$500 bonus for businesses that downsize their trash dumpster and reduce the frequency of trash pickup and maintain the lower frequency of trash pickup for a minimum of 4 consecutive months
Attend the Zero Waste Ambassador training
A $25.00 gift card per employee up to 3 employees per business for taking the in-person Zero Waste Ambassador “train the trainer” training
Take the waste reduction challenge
Monthly waste reduction challenges with giveaways and a social media shoutout!
For more details on incentives, please visit this link.
4. Complete reimbursement with the City. You will apply for incentives by sending an invoice to the City along with supporting documentation that verifies incentive eligibility, such as through a hauler invoice or receipt confirming proof of purchase. For example:
- For a business seeking the incentive for starting a single-stream recycling service, businesses will need to show proof for the start of service and continued monthly service.
- For a business seeking the incentive for a reimbursement of indoor recycling containers, businesses will need show proof of purchase of containers.
Additional information may be requested before the City can proceed to approve and process the invoice. The City will reimburse 30 days upon the approval of invoice and supporting documentation. In order to receive reimbursement from the City, businesses must provide to the City a completed W-9 and vendor maintenance form.
5. Program Feedback. After the end of participation, businesses will receive a survey for feedback on the program.
Please note: this pilot program we will be accepting up to 30 businesses. Incentives will be provided up to December 2023 or until funds are depleted, whichever is soonest.
Social Media Waste Reduction Challenge
Businesses have an opportunity to participate in the social media waste reduction challenge. A random giveaway will be provided to businesses that participate in a monthly challenge. Please see below for the monthly challenge schedule. It will routinely be updated and participants will be emailed every month with the challenge announcement. Details are subject to change.
| Month | Challenge |
| November | Conduct a waste audit |
| December | Take the virtual training on recycling dos and don’ts AND/OR Host a donation drive for unwanted materials |
| January | Nominate a Zero Waste Hero |
| February | Install signage for employees and/or customers on recycling (what goes where) |
| March | Encourage a reusable cup/bottle challenge for employees to cut down on disposable cups/mugs! |
| April | Make art out of waste! |
| May | Show us a live picture of recycling at work |
| June | Show us a picture of your most common recyclable |
| July | Show us a picture of your most common plastic recyclable and its recycling arrow symbol! |
| August | Show us a picture of a hard to recycle item |
| September | Volunteer to divert waste (for example, food bank, donation drive, etc.) |
| October | Conduct a waste audit |
| November | Take a webinar on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and tell us what you learned |
| December | Take a webinar or listen to a podcast about sustainable purchasing and tell us what you learned |
Below is how businesses can participate in each challenge:
Each business that participates will then be randomly entered for a giveaway. The City may feature your participation on social media.
We highly encourage employees of businesses to participate!
Eligibility
- Any business in South Bend that is current on their taxes, where the property is not listed for sale is eligible.
- We will accept up to 30 businesses with at least 10 businesses residing in the City’s defined neighborhood corridors territory:
- Lincoln Way West: between LaSalle Avenue and west city limits (near Maplewood Ave.)
- Indiana Avenue: between Pulaski Street and Main Street
- Linden Avenue: between Walnut Street and Olive Street
- Miami Street: between Lincoln Way East and Altgeld Street
- Michigan Street: between Bronson Street and Donmoyer Avenue
- Mishawaka Avenue: between Eddy Street and Logan Street
- Portage Avenue: between Diamond Avenue/Angela Boulevard and Kinyon Street
- Elwood Avenue: from Portage Avenue to Wilber Street
- Western Avenue: between William Street and west city limits (near Mayflower Road)
- Businesses will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis (20 participants located outside of Corridors, and 10 in the City’s neighborhood corridors territory).
- ATTENTION: Due to available funding, nonprofits within City boundaries are eligible to apply. Nonprofit organizations must be registered and active with the Indiana Secretary of State and/or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool.
Incentives
Please see table below for a detailed explanation of each incentive. Details are subject to change.
| Incentives | Starting Single-Stream Recycling | All Other Businesses |
| 50% discount up to $100/month for 12 months for starting a single-stream recycling service | X | |
| Match switch out fee up to $250 to downsize waste dumpster | X | X |
| Up to $300 reimbursement for businesses to purchase indoor recycling containers (operations and/or customer-facing) | X | X |
| $25 gift card per employee up to 3 employees per business for taking the in-person Zero Waste Hero training | X | X |
| Monthly prizes with social media shout-outs! | X | X |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Application Questions
How many businesses will be supported by this program?
We are hoping to serve up to 30 businesses.
We will accept up to 30 businesses with at least 10 businesses residing in the City’s defined neighborhood corridors territory:
- Lincoln Way West: between LaSalle Avenue and west city limits (near Maplewood Ave.)
- Indiana Avenue: between Pulaski Street and Main Street
- Linden Avenue: between Walnut Street and Olive Street
- Miami Street: between Lincoln Way East and Altgeld Street
- Michigan Street: between Bronson Street and Donmoyer Avenue
- Mishawaka Avenue: between Eddy Street and Logan Street
- Portage Avenue: between Diamond Avenue/Angela Boulevard and Kinyon Street
- Elwood Avenue: from Portage Avenue to Wilber Street
- Western Avenue: between William Street and west city limits (near Mayflower Road
What is a participation agreement?
A participation agreement states your business’s intent and commitment to to participation and cooperation in the program.
Do I need to own my property to participate?
Businesses that own or lease can participate. If you lease your building, please make sure you have permission from the property owner/management company to participate.
Programmatic Questions
What happens after my business signs the participation agreement?
You are officially part of the program! You can work towards qualifying for any of the incentives offered by the City.
What is a single-stream recycling hauler?
For this program, we define single-stream recycling service as a service in which all recyclable materials are placed in a single bin and are not picked up or mixed with trash by the hauler before processing at a material recovery facility.
How will businesses choose what a single-stream recycling hauler to use?
Please visit this link to find single-stream recycling haulers for our area. You make the decision on recycling hauler selection.
If I do not start my single-stream recycling service at the start of the program, for how many months will I be reimbursed?
We will provide reimbursement up to December 2023 or until funds are depleted, whichever is soonest. For example, if you start a single-stream recycling service in January 2023, you can be reimbursed monthly by the City from January 2023 to December 2023.
How much does monthly single-stream recycling typically cost?
The cost of single-stream recycling will vary according to your business. Cost largely depends on dumpster size and how often it is picked up.
Can my business participate without starting a single-stream recycling service?
Yes, you can still participate in benefitting from any of the incentives that are intended for waste reduction.
Can I still benefit from this program if I want to remain a Michiana customer?
Yes, you can still benefit from this program as Michiana customer! Earn a $500 incentive by taking steps to decreasing your dumpster size and reducing the frequency of pickup for at least four consecutive months! Participate in the monthly challenges to improve your recycling rate, minimize your waste stream, and bring more education and awareness to your employees and customers. Get more tips to reduce waste here!
Do you have any tips to help my business reduce waste?
Yes, we offer a virtual training for business employees. We have also developed a list of tips and resources for reducing waste. Please visit this link.
What are the monthly giveaways?
Each month the City will announce a waste reduction challenge. Businesses can participate in the challenge by submitting a picture of their actions along with an accompanying caption. Any business that participates will be entered in a random giveway. Participating businesses may be highlighted on the City’s Office of Sustainability Facebook and Twitter page.
What documentation do we need to provide to qualify for an incentive?
We will typically need a copy of your monthly recycling and trash bill. In the event we need additional information, we will need your cooperation and permission so that your hauler can share necessary information to verify incentive eligibility.
What is the total amount of incentives I could receive through this program?
You can potentially receive $2,000-$3,000.
Is this a recurring program?
This program is made possible through limited funds from the City of South Bend’s American Rescue Plan. There is no guarantee this or an iteration of this program will be continued in future years.
Common Recycling Myths
Single-stream recycling ends up going to the landfill.
Myth! All accepted single-stream items that are empty, lose, and dry will be reprocessed into new products.
You don’t have to clean recyclables. The recycling facility will do it for you.
Myth! If your recyclables are not clean, they are contaminated and are at risk of being landfilled. Contamination causes inefficiencies in the recycling process. Dirty recyclables contaminate clean recyclables leading to more materials being sent to the landfill.
Waste Reduction Resources
Getting Started
Virtual Training for All Employees
- A short 3 min video for quick dos and don’ts on recycling
- A virtual 19 min in-depth training on recycling and waste management best practices
Targeted Training for Zero Waste Heroes
Printable Signs and How-To DIY Waste Audit
Guide for Indoor Recycling and Waste Bins
How to Communicate to Your Employees/Tenants about this Recycling Initiative
Want more tips to reduce waste? Check out these links:
Responsible Purchasing Standards Examples for Sustainable Procurement
Indiana University South Bend Center for a Sustainable Future’s Guide for more information on recycling, reuse, and proper disposal.
26 Waste Management Tips from the Green Business Bureau
EPA Resources for Managing and Reducing Waste
Restaurant Tips for Recycling and Waste Reduction
List of Single-Stream Haulers
Below is a list of single-stream recycling haulers in the South Bend area. It will be updated if the City becomes aware of other single-stream recycling haulers. Please note this list is not an endorsement. You can choose to select any single-stream hauler to benefit from incentives for starting a single-stream recycling service.
List of Single-Stream Haulers
| Hauler Company | Phone Number | Point of Contact |
| Himco/Borden | 574-612-9006 | Eric Ivory |
| Republic Services | 574-402-0178 | Jeff Hewitt |
| Waste Management | 574-298-7739 | David Wainscott |
*Please note: Michiana Recycling and Disposal is not considered a single-stream recycling service.
Are You a Michiana Customer?
You can still benefit from this program as Michiana customer! Earn a $500 incentive by taking steps to decreasing your dumpster size and reducing the frequency of pickup for at least four consecutive months! Participate in the monthly challenges to improve your recycling rate, minimize your waste stream, and bring more education and awareness to your employees and customers.
Office of Sustainability | Department of Community Investment | City of South Bend