Stating “it’s time that Everett becomes an affirmative, progressively ‘green’ community,” Mayor John F. Hanlon announced he has entered into an agreement with Recycle Bank, Inc. of Philadelphia to implement a new, innovative, positively motivated recycling program within the city boundaries of Everett.
“Presently, the City of Everett recycles 17 tons monthly,” Mayor Hanlon said.  “The program we are embarking on will see this figure skyrocket to a projected 433 tons per month, meaning substantive monetary savings to the City of Everett.”
“The potential savings to the City of Everett is substantial,” said Chief Procurement Officer Joseph Pedulla.  “We stand to receive $5,600 per month back to the City of Everett from the current recycling company that will receive our material.
This is of course, in addition to the environmental benefits to the city and the avoided tipping fees at the trash disposal facility.”
This program is a merit based and will be administered by Recycle Bank of Philadelphia, Mayor Hanlon reported.
 “Each family will earn coupons based on the amount of recyclable materials their home address produces,” added Hanlon.  “The coupons will be for area stores, such as Target, Staples, FedEX, Whole Foods, and other local Everett businesses.  The more you recycle, the larger the coupon you will receive.”
Explaining the initiation of the program to the city, Jon Norton, chairman of the Conservation Commission and recycling coordinator,  said,  “We will begin by initiating this program within a test area.  The area chosen will be the Tuesday Run  trash pickup area.  Specifically, this area includes from the city of Chelsea line around the circumference of the County Road area to Chelsea Street, Ferry Street, Elm Street, west from Elm Street to Harley Street, Jefferson Street and Adams Avenue.”
Norton added,  “The test period will be four months in length.  During that time we will monitor the amounts of recyclables collected and ascertain whether the program is being administered properly. If the test period proves successful, the recycling program will be expended to the whole city.
Mayor Hanlon concluded, “It has been a goal of mine to initiate a program such as this one.  The City of Everett needs to implement more environmentally friendly programs.  We all must do our part to promote healthy and economical living.”