Vicinity Centres joins war on waste with new recycling system

waste managementSydney shopping centre Chatswood Chase has launched a “first-of-its-kind” recycling system to help it reach its zero waste goal by 2020, with Vicinity Centres now looking to roll out more recycling systems across its national portfolio.

The new recycling system will allow the Vicinity Centre-owned shopping centre to save an additional 695 tonnes of landfill every year – equivalent to 15,500 household wheelie bins of waste.

The project has also teamed up with disability service provider House With No Steps in order to provide jobs to those with disabilities.

Retailers at the centre are being asked to use specific bins for a number of waste streams, including papers, plastics, organics and metals. These bins are then being delivered to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), which places waste on a conveyor belt to be sorted, bundled and processed on-site.

Justin Mills, Vicinity Shopping Centres executive general manager, said the MRF was the first recycling system of its kind to be employed in an Australian shopping centre.

“The Material Recovery Facility makes great business sense and is a win for the community,” he said.

“We have created seven new jobs, six of which help create meaningful employment for people living with disabilities while also diverting 92 per cent of waste away from landfill, cutting our carbon footprint and improving our operational productivity.”

You have 7 articles remaining. Unlock 15 free articles a month, it’s free.