Want Me to Recycle More? Throw in a Jackpot, Sweetie

Turns out, all we needed to become eco-warriors was the chance to win big while ditching our empties.

A new study out of the University of British Columbia just confirmed what every mom already knows: bribery works.

Currently in Ontario, when we return bottles and cans, we get a little pocket change. Ten cents here, ten cents there—it’s just enough to feel vaguely responsible while still being broke.

But researchers decided to shake things up. Instead of giving everyone a dime per bottle, what if you got a lottery ticket instead? Same payout overall, but now each bottle earns you a 1-in-10,000 chance of scoring $1,000. Suddenly, your recycling bin becomes a gateway to your “screw it, I’m buying a cottage” fund.

And get this—it worked ridiculously well. People in the study recycled 47% more when a potential jackpot was on the line. Because. Who among us hasn’t justified buying a scratch ticket after saying, “This is definitely my lucky day”?

According to the lead researcher, it’s all about the thrill. That tiny chance of a big win beats a guaranteed toonie any day. (Except maybe on a Friday when you're short a toonie for a large steeped tea and a muffin.)

RELATED: Poll Shows What People Would Do If They Won The Lottery

And if you’re rolling your eyes thinking, “Yeah right, like that’d ever work outside a lab,” it already is. Norway—land of fjords and IKEA-style functionality—has been running a similar program where you can either take your small refund or roll the dice for up to $ 100 K.

Their recycling rate? Nearly 100%. Because nothing motivates quite like the dream of turning a bottle of flat ginger ale into a flat-screen TV.

So if the government wants us to save the planet, maybe it's time to stop with the guilt trips and start handing out prizes. After all, we’ve been hauling around minivans full of empties for years. Might as well get a trip to the Bahamas out of it.