The initiative is a partnership between the GPT Group (GPT) and the Australian Food and Grocery Council's Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) to drive greater uptake of public place recycling across the Group's shopping centre portfolio, which boasts over 126 million^ visitations annually.

Phase one of the national rollout targeted four (4) GPT Group managed shopping centres in New South Wales including Rouse Hill Town Centre, Hunter Street Outlets, Carlingford Court and Norton Plaza, and one Centre - Dandenong Plaza - in Victoria.

A further eight (8) centres will be completed in phase two of the rollout, with Melbourne Central being the first centre completed. When the new systems are in place, visitors to the thirteen (13) GPT centres will be able to easily make the choice to recycle, thereby saving resources and avoiding the environmental impact of landfill..

National Sustainability Manager for The GPT Group, Bruce Precious, said, "This partnership with the Australian Food and Grocery Council's Packaging Stewardship Forum is GPT's commitment to creating and sustaining environments that enrich people's lives in action. It forms part of the Group's comprehensive sustainability program that has seen us become one of the world's leading players in responsible property design and management.

"With over 15,000 tonnes of recycled materials being collected from our office buildings and retail centres in 2010, GPT achieved a 50% recycling rate across the entire business last year. Our aim is to continue to improve this recycling rate, eventually "closing the loop" so that all resources can be used most efficiently.

"We hope that this program will encourage our customers to actively recycle when visiting a GPT centre. Their good choice will be supported by additional back of house measures to ensure recycled materials are segregated from landfill," said Mr Precious.

General Manager of the PSF, Jenny Pickles, said, "Our research has shown that people want to be able to recycle "away from home", just as they are already doing at home. This project will enable them to do just that, and is a great example of the types of proactive programs the beverage industry is undertaking to address the issue of packaging product stewardship."

The new recycling systems will carry the call to action to ‘Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin' a message that is being rolled out nationally by the PSF in other major shopping centres and in airports, train networks, higher education institutions, stadia and entertainment venues.

The thirteen GPT centres are:

Victoria - Highpoint Shopping Centre, Chirnside Park, Melbourne Central, Dandenong Plaza and Parkmore Shopping Centre

New South Wales - Rouse Hill Town Centre, Wollongong Central, Charlestown Square, Forestway Shopping Centre, Carlingford Court, Hunter Street Outlets and Norton Plaza

Northern Territory - Casuarina Square

Photo: (Back left) General Manager Packaging Stewardship Forum, Jenny Pickles and (back right) National Sustainability Manager for The GPT Group, Bruce Precious

* In 2010, GPT was again recognised as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Global Real Estate Sector Leader.

^ Total number of visitations across GPT's managed retail portfolio as at December 2010.