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Shopping Centers Find Savings in Recycling

May 23, 2016

By Sara Verrillo, Digital Media Specialist

In an effort to increase commercial recycling rates across the county, ACUA worked closely to improve recycling practices among tenants of DDR-owned properties Hamilton Commons and Wrangleboro Consumer Square -- two of the county’s most popular shopping destinations.

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The Challenge

Many of the waste disposal decisions were being made by corporate headquarters far away from local operations in Atlantic County. Because of this, many of the businesses were only recycling cardboard and were unaware of the additional items accepted under ACUA’s single-stream recycling program. Further, many did not realize they could save thousands by switching to ACUA’s recycling collection services, which are provided to all Hamilton Township businesses at no cost through the township’s recycling contract.

What We Did

Working together with DDR Property Manager Cyndi Rovinsky and Facility Manager Joe Yorlano, ACUA met with many of the store managers and shared tools like waste audits and educational guides.

Many local managers saw they could recycle more and earn significant savings by switching their recycling collection services to ACUA. We provided containers varying from 96-gallon carts to 30-yard containers to meet each business’s needs and shared promotional materials for businesses to share with employees and customers.

PetSmart

PetSmart switched to ACUA in July 2014 and now uses a 30-yard container to collect cardboard and other recyclables from its Mays Landing location. It recycles approximately 78 tons of recycling per year.


The Results

ACUA now collects single-stream recycling from 17 businesses throughout the two shopping centers. Recycling not only saves each store thousands per year, but it also helps make money for the municipality. Each year, the state awards municipalities with tonnage grants as an incentive to increase recycling and decrease trash. The more residents and businesses recycle, the greater grant award the municipality will receive. Since we began working with these businesses in 2013, commercial recycling has increased by 20% in Hamilton Township.

 

Is your business recycling? Please contact us as most Atlantic County businesses are eligible for free recycling services.