Westfield confirms recycling progress

1 November 2012
Westfield confirms recycling progress

“Westfield staff have confirmed they aim to install food court recycling in Westfield Riccarton before the end of 2012,” Kate Day, from the social justice division of the Christchurch Anglican Church said today.

Student campaigners from Burnside and Riccarton High schools met Westfield facilities manager Lance Johns in Christchurch yesterday.

The students have been campaigning for one year to see recycling bins for customers in Westfield Riccarton.

“Westfield has eleven shopping centres in New Zealand, but they provide no recycling bins for customers,” Rebbekah Brittenden from Burnside High school said.

The students delivered 600 signatures in support of the mall introducing recycling bins for customers. They also handed over letters of support from Christchurch leaders including Mayor Bob Parker, Sam Johnson and the Bishop of Christchurch.

Johns confirmed that front-of-house recycling is in progress in Westfield Malls.

“Westfield aims to roll out recycling in its food courts by the end of 2012. They will then install recycling bins throughout the rest of their malls in the first quarter of next year,” Kerstin McEwan, Head of Environment at Riccarton High School said.

“After campaigning for more than a year, it is great to have a commitment on when we will see the bins,” Rebbekah Brittenden said.

“When we found out Westfield had no customer recycling we were shocked. It’s just commonsense to reduce the waste that goes to the landfill,” said student campaigner Cassandra Watts from Burnside High.

“The gesture of providing bins for customers is very important. We all recycle at home, at school and at work. To have no recycling bins in public places feels behind the times,” Kate Day said.

Few malls in New Zealand provide front-of-house recycling. The Palms, in Shirley, is the only indoor Christchurch mall to provide recycling bins for customers.

“We hope to campaign to see recycling bins in all malls in Christchurch. Anyone interested in following progress on recycling can join the facebook group Recycling in Christchurch Malls,” Ms McEwan said.

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