June 14, 2004—A new federal initiative plans to target waste from shopping centers, including corrugated cardboard packaging, wood pallets, plastic packaging, paper, food court waste (glass, metal and plastic beverage containers, and food waste) and yard waste. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Mike Leavitt announced the “America’s Marketplace Recycles!” initiative recently at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Spring Conference. Ninety-four percent of Americans visit a shopping center every month, on average 2.5 times a month.
Leading shopping centers are already focusing on packaging reduction, resource management, buying recycled, and educating consumers about recycling, says EPA.
For example, in 1995, the 4.2 million square foot Mall of America complex in Bloomington, Minnesota, began a “pig bucket program” by contracting with a local farmer to haul away more than 150 tons of food waste per month from the mall’s restaurants to be used as pig feed. The Mall of America complex is home to more than 520 shops, an indoor family theme park, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium, and a 14-screen movie theater. The “pig-bucket program” is just one element of food waste from the mall’s far-reaching reuse and recycling program, which diverts 50 to 60 percent of the 800 tons of solid waste generated by the complex each month.
As another example, in 2002, VF Outlet Village in Reading, Pennsylvania, recycled 499 tons of corrugated cardboard, generating more than $225,000 in income. In addition, for each ton of materials recycled, the shopping center avoids a $50-per-ton waste disposal fee.
AMR! also encourages shopping centers and retailers to recycle construction and demolition debris from renovations and expansions, and whenever possible, to use products containing recycled content. The AMR! initiative provides incentives to participate in the program by offering a series of awards that recognize significant recycling and waste prevention efforts. The first AMR! awards will be presented at ICSC’s 2005 Spring Convention for: Best New Recycling Program; Expansion of an Existing Recycling Program; Outstanding Retailer; Outstanding Mall Owner/Developer; Public Awareness Campaign/Promotional Event; Community Partnership/Beneficial Use of Funds; and Innovative Recycling Program. A single outstanding program will be selected by the judging panel to receive the “Recycler of the Year” Award.
