Gamification is proving to be an effective strategy for mobilizing communities to build healthier, safer, and greener habits. We’ve shared stories about how gamification has been implemented to reduce traffic emissions, and how it’s being used to plant millions of real trees. Now, there’s another gamification initiative in the UK that’s encouraging passersby to pick up litter for proper disposal by entering them into a prize draw for cash.
The mobile application is called Litterlotto, and this is how it works: People pick up litter into a public waste bin and take a snapshot of them doing so. Then, they upload this photo to the app, which makes them eligible for smaller spot prizes and provides them with an entry into a monthly prize draw. To ensure that the system isn’t abused, there are rules and regulations surrounding the litter lottery. For instance, each entry must include a piece of non-organic litter like packaging, bottles, cigarette butts, and the like. Litter from goods that are designed to be consumed at home (like food cans) are not considered eligible.
The prize amount, which is provided for by Litterlotto’s corporate sponsors, will vary depending on the location, but for now, the UK monthly jackpot is 10,000 GBP and spot prizes vary from 5 to 250 GBP. The British app developer originally trialed the system in Denmark, where it was received with huge success.
Louise Sunderland was recently announced as the proud winner of the UK’s first Litterlotto. After picking up around 400 littered items, Sunderland received the jackpot prize, which was 5,000 GBP at the time.
