Americans, on average, visit a shopping mall or shopping center nearly three times a month thus making these shopping and socializing destinations an ideal place to practice and encourage effective waste recycling. For businesses responsible for the management and maintenance of these mixed use developments, establishing the habit to promote recycling by retailers, restaurants, and the public can result in saving opportunities. Particular types of waste to focus on for any shopping establishment include:

• Cardboard boxes and packaging
• Wooden shipping and shortage pallets
• Plastic, glass, and metal containers
• Paper of all kinds (newspapers, office…)
• Restaurant food waste
• Organic waste from landscaping

The Environmental Protection Agency has specialized materials and resources for managers of commercial buildings to learn more about creating and maintaining effective recycling and waste reduction programs. A key reason for shopping centers and malls to adopt recycling programs is that it saves money by decreasing disposal costs and can possibly create revenue by selling recycled materials. Visit the EPA’s website to read success stories of retailers and commercial centers who implemented recycling programs to learn about best practice strategies.

Waste Care Wants You to Remember: Every piece of waste that is not recycled must be disposed of in a landfill. Implementing full-scale recycling programs can save you and your commercial tenants money while helping to preserve the environment.