Recycling photo courtesy of Anna-Lisa D'Onofrio.

Feb. 2, 2016

Put your green thinking caps on, Fort Worth. You could win a $500 Amazon gift card. 

Recyclebank, a New York City-based company that provides recycling education for the city of Fort Worth, launched a contest last month called #GreenFor2016. 

The competition calls on Fort Worth residents to post photos of how they plan to recycle or reduce waste this year on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #GreenFor2016.

The contest runs through Feb. 12. Each week, the person with the top photo receives a $50 Amazon gift card.

Garden bucket made from garden hose courtesy by Beth Sovereign.

In addition, Fort Worth-based 501 3(c) organizations can also compete in the Clean and Green Challenge to win as much as $5,000. Nonprofits earn points up until Earth Day by hosting a recycling event, participating in a cleanup day or organizing an Earth Day event. All organizations that earn 500 points receive $500.

While only Fort Worth residents are eligible for the #GreenFor2016, anyone can check out the entries by searching #GreenFor2016 on Twitter and Instagram.

Contestants have already submitted photos of some creative ideas, such a lunch box made from paper milk cartons and a gardening bucket made from a garden hose.

Laurie Johnson, who heads up the Recyclebank program for the southern region of the U.S., said Fort Worth is the first city in the region to host the contests.

“Getting more people to recycle is really is all about education. We need all of us doing our part at home, work and school.”

Here are few ideas from Recyclebank on how to be green in 2016:

•Recycle cardboard, paper, metal and glass

•Use a reusable water bottle or coffee mug

•Shop locally

•Compost yard or food waste

•Try Meatless Mondays

•Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation

•Purchase products made from recyclable materials

•Make an up cycled art project

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