This summer, Waste Management’s new Clean Cart Challenge Prize Patrol will be in Bothell and other local neighborhoods rewarding top-notch recyclers for their green habits. If the Prize Patrol finds a customer’s recycling cart or container contains only acceptable recyclable materials, they’ll win a gift card valued at up to $150.

The Clean Cart Challenge is designed to insert some fun into recycling and re-energize customers to take a second look in their garbage bins — it’s likely that they’ll find items that can be recycled instead of thrown away. In fact, more than half of garbage collected in King County is still composed of recyclable or compostable material.

“We encourage customers to prepare for the Clean Cart Challenge by downloading recycling guidelines from our Web site,” said Katie Salinas, public sector manager for Waste Management. “Review these guidelines to learn about all of the materials you can place in the recycling and then take a good look at your garbage; you may be surprised at how many items you can shift to your recycling cart.”

“The city of Bothell is pleased to support this program and is excited to see increased recycling in local homes and in businesses,” said Recycling and Public Services Projects Administrator Sabrina Combs.

Waste Management is also looking for Bothell’s greenest residents and businesses to share their recycling and waste-reduction tips on the Clean Cart Challenge Web page. Send an e-mail, photos or video depicting the “green” in your life to recyclenw@wm.com.

The Clean Cart Challenge will run all summer long in Bothell, Kirkland, Redmond, Federal Way, Auburn, Marysville, Burien and unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties that are serviced by Waste Management.