Recycle Away!

Here at BeQRious, we are always elated to see a usage of QR Codes (technology) that combines marketing strategies from the old school. As a supporter of technology, there is really so much more that we can do for not just ourselves, for the rest of the world too. As for this case, it is Whangarei District Council of New Zealand making use of QR Codes to promote and encourage people who live in the district to recycle in a proper manner. In essence, not only is the technology being used to educate the people about proper methods to recycling but it is also used to helm a very healthy practice and doing its bit for Mother Nature.

The New Zealand district council hopes to encourage more participation by giving out prizes when they scan the QR Code and learn the methods. The said program will run and receive widespread attention from the locals from now till December 3, 2012 and they are hoping that with the increase in the number of smartphones in the market, there will also be an increase in the number of participants this year.

During the six week program, there will be permanent recycling bins to be found at predetermined destinations. The city council partnered up with a New Zealand earth-loving activists called ‘Love NZ’ who are also running a program called ‘It’s a Karma Thing’. While the city council is offering up big, attractive prizes for recyclers to encourage them to recycle more, the Karma Thing will give participants a chance to earn Karma points. Each of the recycling bins will have their own location QR Codes. When smartphone users scan the code with their phones, the software will record the activity and save the data.

For It’s a Karma Thing users, the points earned will work as a sort of credit for future bids for products and offers to be found on their official website.

This, we have to say, is a huge thing for the city council. They have stepped into technology full force when they started their own Facebook and Twitter accounts and this just adds fuel to their game plan. It seems that they are getting all excited about the possibility of getting connected to and staying tuned to a completely different age group and demographic. Better recyclers, more informed people and a healthier Mother Earth….it is all a good thing, we say!