Environmental awareness is no longer just a choice but a necessity; recycling remains one of the everyday actions with the greatest potential impact. However, there is still a long way to go to transform this habit into a universal behavior. In this context, The Spanish app RECICLOS proposes a simple but effective solution: combining recycling, incentives, and mobile technology. to promote active and sustained citizen participation.
Developed by The Circular Lab, the innovation center of Ecoembes and launched as part of a model that evolves the traditional recycling system, RECICLOS is presented as a Return and Reward System (RRS) which rewards those who recycle cans and plastic beverage bottles in the yellow bins. But far from being a rewards app or a green marketing strategy, its focus goes further: encouraging the circular economy, supporting charitable causes, and contributing to the reforestation of natural spaces. like the Sierra Norte of Madrid.
Technology that motivates recycling
The operation of RECYCLING is simple and accessible. You just need to scan the barcode of the container you are going to recycle with your mobile phone, place it in the yellow container and (only cans and plastic drink bottles are valid), take a photo of the container from the same application and deposit it in the yellow containerAnother option is to recycle cans and plastic bottles at RECICLOS machines located throughout Spain. It's very simple to use: simply insert the can or plastic bottle into the machine and scan the QR code that appears on the screen to earn RECICLOS points. In both cases, users accumulate RECICLOS points.
These RECICLOS points can be redeemed for participation in raffles for technological prizes, food products or experiences, or for participating in raffles, or donated to social and environmental causes. One of the most popular options is contributing to the RECICLOS Forest, a reforestation initiative in the Sierra Norte region of Madrid, where more than 40.000 trees have already been planted in collaboration with the organization Retree.
At present, RECICLOS is present in 689 municipalities throughout Spain, and now fully covers the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands. In addition, it has installed more than 300 RECICLOS machines in public spaces such as universities, stations, and hospitals, allowing recycling to continue outside the home.
This reach has generated an active community of more than 800.000 users to date, with over 5,6 million RECICLOS points donated since its launch. In 2024, the platform supported 87 charity projects and planted more than 22.000 trees.
Much more than raffles
Although incentives such as prize draws While RECICLOS may seem like the main attraction, it has also managed to establish itself as a tool for solidarity. In the coming months, for example, Users will be able to donate their RECICLOS points to the Spanish Association Against Cancer, which organizes summer camps for sick children and their families, helping them temporarily escape the hospital environment, among other social and environmental projects.
In addition, each autonomous community with active RECYCLES municipalities has its own social or environmental project, which allows initiatives to be tailored to the specific needs of each region. This decentralization of solidarity provides added value: the opportunity to collaborate with local, tangible causes that have a direct impact on the community.
Users will also be able to allocate their RECYCLES to plant a tree in the RECYCLOS Forest, a degraded area in the Sierra Norte region of Madrid that requires reforestation. With your RECYCLES, you can contribute to its improvement by planting trees and, consequently, increasing biodiversity.
This summer at RECICLOS will be drawn from Leisure vouchers and folding bicycles, up to packs of products with Designation of Origin from different regions. Thus, recycling becomes a way to care for the planet and, at the same time, enjoy cultural or culinary rewards.
However, the most interesting thing is that the prizes don't overshadow the spirit of the project: the solidarity and ecological focus remains a priority. Users can decide, at any time, to redeem their RECICLOS points for a personal experience or make a collective contribution, making each act of recycling an ethical decision.