Wireless phone and data service provider Verizon Wireless announced a partnership with Philadelphia-based recycling rewards firm RecycleBank to help increase the curbside recycling rate in the Philadelphia Tri-State region. According to a press release issued by Verizon, the partnership will yield improved rewards for RecycleBank participants in the region.

RecycleBank provides a recycling program that tracks the amount of recyclables for a community and rewards its residents with points that can be redeemed at hundreds of local and national retailers. The company claims to have doubled the recycling rates of every city that uses its program and services more than 300 communities across the United States and in the United Kingdom. In Philadelphia, the company works with the city’s Streets Department to encourage recycling through the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program.

“This is the first time RecycleBank has joined forces with a wireless company to make curbside recycling more rewarding for households,” said Ron Gonen, CEO and co-founder of RecycleBank in the press release. “This innovative partnership will allow us to offer additional incentives for RecycleBank members in the Philadelphia tri-state area and help us achieve our common goal of increasing recycling.”

Through its exclusive partnership with RecycleBank, Verizon Wireless is offering additional incentives to residents in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware to help increase residential recycling, including:

“This initiative is yet another way we are continuing our strong track record of fostering sustainability both inside our business and in the communities we serve. It’s a win-win for local economies, the environment and our customers,” said Mario Turco, president of Verizon Wireless’ Philadelphia Tri-State Region in the press release. “I applaud Mayor Nutter’s vision to make Philadelphia the nation’s ‘greenest’ city by 2015 and I’m convinced that innovative programs like Philadelphia’s Recycling Rewards effort, powered by RecycleBank, will be critical to helping speed the Mayor’s vision along the road to reality.”

For more information, visit www.PhillyRecyclingPAYS.com and www.recyclebank.com/partners/verizon.