Halloween snack packaging waste being used for R&D and engineered fuel

London Drugs stores in BC are accepting chocolate bar and candy wrappers as well as potato chip bags to help keep Halloween snack packaging waste out of city landfills.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- London Drugs has launched the first-ever Halloween candy wrapper recycling drive in BC. The retailer is now accepting chocolate bar and candy wrappers as well as potato chip bags as part of its Other Flexible Plastic Packaging recycling program and hopes to help keep Halloween snack packaging waste out of city landfills.

“We want to help British Columbians celebrate Halloween with a bit less waste by making one simple suggestion: instead of throwing out your candy wrappers and chip bags, bring them to London Drugs for recycling,” says Maury McCausland, Retail Operations Sustainability Specialist London Drugs.

Customers can bring their wrapper and Other Flexible Plastic Packaging to any British Columbia London Drugs location. The items collected will be sent to Merlin Plastics, a post-consumer processing company in Delta BC, and used for research and development as the company works to develop a commercially viable process for recycling these common but tough-to-process items. Material that cannot be recycled will be used to produce engineered fuel for commercial operations such as concrete plants.

London Drugs’ Other Flexible Plastic Packaging recycling initiative is part of RecycleBC’s new take back program. These types of plastics are among the fastest-growing packaging forms on the market and are one of the largest categories of packaging particularly for confectionary and snack foods. According to Stats Canada, over $550 million worth of cookies, confectionery, and snack foods were sold across Canada last October, contributing significant amounts of packaging waste to landfills and the environment. Food wrappers are also a common source of marine litter and were among the top five items found in the Ocean Conservatory’s International Coastal Clean-up last year.

“This is really a big problem; the volume of wrapper waste is significant. That’s why we’re making a commitment to help address it – not just at Halloween but year-round,” says McCausland.

London Drugs is now accepting all sorts of items in the Other Flexible Plastic Packaging category including: stand-up and zipper lock pouches, like pouches for granola, frozen berries, etc.; crinkly wrappers and bags, like coffee bags, or cellophane; flexible packaging with plastic seal, like packaging for fresh pasta or pre-packaged deli meats; non-food protective wrap like bubble wrap or plastic envelopes; and net bags used for fruits and vegetables like onions, avocados and lemons.

“Last year, with the help of our customers and staff, our stores celebrated a 93% waste diversion rate. This program will help get us one step closer to zero waste,” says McCausland.

ABOUT WHAT’S THE GREEN DEAL?

As a major Canadian retailer, London Drugs is part of the communities we serve. We know we have a part to play in helping make our world more sustainable. ‘What’s the Green Deal?’ is our commitment to continue searching for better, greener ways to do business, and to help our customers find answers. We address sustainability through a four-pillar approach: Energy & Operations, Waste Reduction, Upstream Purchasing and Communication & Education. And we will keep asking the tough questions and looking for answers, because sustainability is a journey, not a destination. www.greendeal.ca @WTGreenDeal

ABOUT LONDON DRUGS

Founded in 1945, B.C.-based London Drugs has 81 stores in more than 35 major markets throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba including its online store www.londondrugs.com London Drugs offers consumers a range of products from digital cameras and cosmetics to computers and televisions. Renowned for its creative approach to retailing, the company employs more than 7,500 people with pharmacy and health care services being the heart of its business. Committed to innovation and superior customer service, London Drugs has established itself as a reputable and caring company and continues to position itself for future growth and development. For more information, visit www.LondonDrugs.com.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c6a0b28-e114-4f89-92bb-469154ce5bc5