Waste management and reduction guide for retail industry

23Section 4.Identifying wasteminimisationopportunitiesWheeled ‘skip’ type refuse storagereceptacles of 1.5 or 2 cubic metrecapacity with close-fitting lids arethe preferred receptacles for generalwaste. Some centres may also wish touse them for recycling large amountsof paper and cardboard. If so, paintindividual bins in different colours andfeature signs to differentiate them.In the shopping centre■ Introduce recycling collectionsites for shoppers to deposit:■ PET plastic, bottles andaluminium or steel cans■ used printer and tonercartridges■ corks■ batteriesIn retail shops■ Introduce an effective paper andcardboard recycling system■ Encourage recycling of oil andbatteries from motor vehiclemaintenance services■ Arrange the recycling of grease,fats and frying oilsVarious other receptacles can besourced that comply with particularrecycling systems:■ paper recycling boxes for eachretailer supplied by a recognisedorganisation, for example Amcor,SITA and Visy■ well designed and simple mallfurniture to enable shoppers todeposit rubbish separately frombottles, cans and PET plastics■ any other recognised receptaclethat provides an easy, effectiveand safe complement torecycling systems within aretail environment.Recycling initiativesIn the office■ Introduce an efficient paper andcardboard recycling systemfor retailers and within centremanagement offices■ Ensure printer and copier tonercartridges are refilled or recycledCASE STUDYCentro Colonnades’ system forbottles, cans and PET items hasbeen in operation within the centre’sshopping malls with funds raiseddirected towards local schools andenvironmental groups in programsthat assist the environment. Over40 000 items have been recycledand diverted from landfill over6 years.CASE STUDYAn average 2 to 3 tonnesis recycled from CentroColonnades each week. Since1995, the centre has recycledover 1300 tonnes of paper andcardboard. This system haseffectively reduced the centre’swaste to landfill by two-thirds.