The community shopping centre turns ‘Trash to Treasure’ to accelerate recycling efforts amidst the ‘new normal’
Kuala Lumpur, June 1st, 2020 – Recycling efforts in the country have been put on halt, resulting in an increase of waste in our landfills. Putting its annual sustainability initiative into full gear, IPC Shopping Centre is pleased to kick-off their ‘Trash to Treasure’ campaign to help the community make recycling a part of the ‘new normal’. From 1st June until 2nd August 2020, visitors can drop off their recyclables at IPC Recycling & Buy-Back Centre (RBBC) and enjoy exclusive treasured rewards for selected categories.
The community shopping centre is the first retail destination to have a facility like the RBBC since 2009. This year, IPC will be continue to be the pioneer shopping centre to introduce two new recyclable categories – food and fabric.
More Than Just Food Waste
Approximately 44.5 per cent of daily domestic waste consists of food waste1. Not only does it end up in landfills, food waste also releases harmful chemicals that cause air pollution and affect groundwater quality. Last year, IPC Shopping Centre rolled out a pilot food waste programme with their food and beverage (F&B) tenants and had successfully collected over 10 tonnes of food waste within a year.
Following its success, IPC is now the first shopping centre in Malaysia to extend its waste collection efforts to the public through the RBBC. Visitors are encouraged to segregate and freeze their food waste sealed in a container or plastic bag to avoid further rotting before dropping it off at the centre. The organic waste collected will be bio-recycled through composting and repurposed as animal feed and organic fertiliser.
Caring for Old Clothes
IPC will also be adopting fabric collection bins in the coming months to allow shoppers to sustainably dispose of their fabric-based products which include clothes, soft toys, shoes, bags, linens and curtains. Similar to other recyclables, shoppers can conveniently drive through and drop off their fabric waste at the RBBC. The collected fabric will then be sorted for donations or recycled into industrial wiping cloths and upcycled into wearables.
“Everything we do is for the community,” said Mark Tan, PR and Digital Marketing Manager of IPC Shopping Centre. “As we embrace a new normal, recycling becomes the last thing on our minds. However, as a sustainable shopping centre, we want to empower the community to make recycling part of their everyday lives.”
He continued, “Over the years, our sustainability efforts have shown that waste is inevitable, but responsibly disposing of them goes a long way in creating a more sustainable environment. In light of today’s situation, we have made the RBBC accessible and safe for our co-workers, as well as visitors. Following the latest health guidelines, we have put in place protective measures that allow our visitors to be sustainably conscious while in a safe space.”
IPC has prioritised social distancing requirements in the shopping centre, as well as within RBBC. Floor stickers and hand sanitisers are strategically placed within and around the centre to ensure safe and healthful recycling conditions for all. As part of the new standard operating procedure, temperature checks will also be conducted before entry.
The ‘Trash to Treasure’ campaign rewards shoppers for every recyclable drop off at RBBC namely paper, aluminium, and plastic recyclables. To earn double rewards:
- Drop off recyclables at IPC Shopping Centre’s Recycling & Buy-Back Centre (RBBC) located at the car park near Pillar 8D, Level P1.
- RBBC opens from 10am to 6pm daily (closed from 1pm – 2pm).
- Visitors are encouraged to separate their recyclables according to types of waste.
- Weigh recyclables to receive cashback and a collective receipt.
- Buy-back prices are subjected to the types of waste, materials, and weight. Exact rates of accepted waste can be found at IPC Recycling & Buy-Back Centre and IPC Shopping Centre’s website.
- Show the collective receipt(s) at the i-Counter, Level G from now until 2nd August 2020 to redeem exclusive treasure:
- Redeem one (1) RM10 shopping voucher and one (1) exclusive IPC Canvas Bag | With a minimum of 8kg recyclables.
- Redeem one (1) RM10 shopping voucher, one (1) exclusive IPC Canvas Bag, and one (1) exclusive metal straw | With a minimum of 12kg recyclables.
- Redeem one (1) exclusive metal straw | With a minimum of 8kg recyclables exclusive for IPC Tack Club members.
IPC’s commitment towards a better planet has allowed the shopping centre to be steadfast towards various sustainability efforts. The community shopping centre remains as one of the few collection points for out-of-life mercury content light bulbs and batteries. Besides its Recycling & Buy-Back Centre, IPC uses energy-saving lightbulbs within the centre to reduce carbon emissions, and has placed waste-specific recycle bin placed around the shopping centre. Furthermore, solar panels and rainwater harvesting are installed on the rooftop for sustainable dishwashing and cleaning systems, as well as waste management for reducing landfill waste.
Through this campaign, IPC Shopping Centre sets out to be so much more than a shopping destination by being a hub for sustainable waste disposal. In this, the shopping centre hopes to create meaningful memories for individuals and families within its community, as they spend quality time together by decluttering their homes and sorting waste to prevent landfills from growing, and to reduce the need for new materials.
For more information about the Green campaign and the Recycling & Buy-Back Centre, head over to IPC Shopping Centre’s website or IPC Shopping Centre’s Facebook page.
About IPC Shopping Centre:
Malaysia’s first shopping centre anchored by IKEA, and the first of many shopping centres in IKEA Southeast Asia’s portfolio in the region. A sub regional Shopping Centre strategically located in the heart of a mixed development of offices, hotel, commercial centres & residential, it serves as the neighbourhood shopping destination for the community, complementing the shopping hub in the district known as Mutiara Damansara Commercial Centre. We opened our doors in December 2003 and today we welcome an average visitation of 15 million visitors per year to our Centre.
