South Bend Smart Businesses Recycle – How it Works

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):

Businesses Starting Single Stream Recycling
All Other Businesses

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!

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!

Apply Here!