While Westfield Riccarton already had in place a robust recycling program for cardboard and plastics, the centre's team knew that extending the system to full food recycling could deliver great results in making the centre more efficient. With the advantage of strong retailer support for its existing recycling program, the Westfield Riccarton team were confident of their ability to implement the new program in partnership with the centre's retailers. A challenge they faced however, was the absence of a council-driven or commercial recycling program operating in Christchurch.

By working closely with the centre’s waste-disposal contractor, who provided on-site retailer training and other recommendations, Westfield Riccarton has been able to implement the new program, increasing its recycling percentage from 38% to 49% in two short years.

At Westfield St Lukes a similar program was executed with the goal of reducing the volume of waste to landfill, and in particular, increasing recycling of organic waste. Public rubbish bins in the foodcourt were removed and replaced with a recycling separation station for cleaners to be able to separate waste streams onsite. Recycling facilities were then installed in loading docks, in one case replacing a general rubbish compactor with a complete recycling facility.

"To make it work we engaged with our retail partners first to ensure they were on board, and once we had their commitment, it was a case of attending to every other detail."

Lance Johns, New Zealand National Facilities Manager

The combination of new recycling infrastructure and a retailer education program that included the production of information booklets and the installation of new directional signage has resulted in a positive outcome, with an additional 565 tonnes of waste recycled in 2015.

Scentre Group’s New Zealand National Facilities Manager Lance Johns said: “Implementing a new system like this depends on so many factors – the first of which is the participation of all key stakeholders. To make it work we engaged with our retail partners first to ensure they were on board, and once we had their commitment, it was a case of attending to every other detail – from new signage and bins back of house, to changes in our centre court’s facilities, and educating cleaning staff on a new way to do their jobs. Thanks to the cooperation of everyone, it’s been a worthwhile exercise.”