Consumer Recycling Opportunities
Reusable Shopping Bags
In late 2007 we released a line of reusable shopping bags under its Global Mind brand and by the end of 2008 we have sold over 1,143,000 of these items. We offer our customers an incentive of 1,000 Rewards points on the purchase of these bags and 100 Rewards points each time they decline a shopping bag on their purchase regardless of what type of reusable bag they use. By giving our customers alternatives to single use plastic shopping bags, we help them to not use as many thus reducing the number going to landfill. This initiative has also helped us reduce the number of single use plastic bags issued to customers by approximately 14 % in 2008.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Through our partnership with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s (RBRC) Call2Recycle™ program, we collected over 835 kg or 1,840 lbs of rechargeable batteries and cell phones in 2008. This is a 78% increase over 2007. This proves that by providing the means citizens will do the right thing and recycle. Thus keeping potentially toxic materials out of our nation’s landfills, and helped to preserve natural resources.
 
Return to Retail Shopping Bag Programs
In 2008 we partnered with a number of communities in Ontario including the city of Sault Ste Marie and the Regions of York and Halton to participate in their return to retail program for single use plastic shopping bags. All bags collected by our company were sent for recycling. We are currently looking at options to roll this program out on a national level.
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