Park Royal Tackles Plastic

Based on the findings of a trash analysis conducted by Metro Vancouver, Park Royal Shopping Centre is announcing a plan to tackle its plastic waste. The program, which officially launches on Earth Day (April 22), includes the elimination of 'bad' plastic bags (marked HDPE and LDPE) and the addition of a soft plastics recycling program throughout the Shopping Centre.

The trash inventory was conducted in autumn of 2008 and identified the three leading categories of waste in Park Royal’s garbage: organics, paper and plastic. Upon examining the plastic waste, Metro Vancouver estimated that 278 tonnes of plastic per year could be recycled rather than being sent to the landfill.

“When we saw the numbers, it reaffirmed for us that it was time to take action,” says Cindy Papa, Director of Marketing & Sustainability for the Centre. “We’re beginning by tackling plastics, and we’re looking forward to significantly reducing what we are sending to the landfill.”