Berlin Turns Trash Into Treasures With New Rewards Program

Berlin just launched an experiment that flips the script on tourism: instead of just taking photos and moving on, visitors and residents are now getting paid in perks to clean up. On Wednesday, the German capital rolled out BerlinPay, a rewards program that encourages litter-picking and other eco-conscious activities in exchange for tangible benefits like free museum tickets, canoe tours, and restaurant discounts.

The pilot runs through June 14 and zeros in on the Spree river and Berlin’s network of lakes—waterways that draw massive crowds, especially as summer kicks in. Deputy mayor Franziska Giffey and Sabine Wendt, CEO of the city’s tourist board, framed this as more than cleanup; it’s about shifting how people experience the city. As Wendt put it at Wednesday’s press conference, the initiative invites Berliners and guests to experience Berlin in a more mindful way.

The mechanics are straightforward. Sign up on the visitBerlin platform and choose from roughly 5,000 activities—everything from planting flowers and watering trees to cycling instead of driving. About 40 partner businesses, museums, and associations sweeten the deal by offering rewards. It’s a clever nudge toward environmental responsibility that doubles as a gentle tourism management tool; by channeling visitors toward sustainable behaviors, the city keeps the Spree and its lakes healthier while spreading awareness about local conservation.

Berlin isn’t pioneering this idea—they’re borrowing from Copenhagen’s playbook. CopenPay launched in 2024 and pulled in 75,000 tourists in its first month alone. Bike rentals jumped 29 percent, and tons of rubbish got collected. Those results clearly caught Berlin’s attention. If the pilot succeeds here, city officials plan to make it an annual fixture.

What’s interesting is the psychology at work: framing environmental action as a game with real rewards feels fresher than guilt-tripping or mandates. Visitors get something tangible, the city gets cleaner waterways, and local businesses get foot traffic. Everyone wins. The question now is whether Berlin can replicate Copenhagen’s momentum and whether other cities will follow suit.