Halle, Belgium, 2016-Sep-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of the ‘Joining hands for less street litter’ campaign, Colruyt Group is starting a two-year test project to reduce litter in the vicinity of some of its headquarters buildings in Halle. Extra rubbish bins for general litter and PMD (plastics, metals, drinks’ containers) have been placed in four parking areas, plus several new smokers’ poles and bins for paper goods. The test is the second visible initiative in a wider campaign which runs until the end of 2020. This autumn, there will be a similar test in the parking areas of 11 Colruyt stores. Colruyt, Okay and Bio-Planet are also joining the Belgian Retail Clean-up Day in November.
In consultation with the town council
Colruyt Group will tackle the litter around the parking areas on Edingensesteenweg and Zinkstraat in Halle. This involves about a dozen ‘litter islands’ with at least two large bins for general litter and PMD. There will also be a number of smokers’ poles on Demesmaeckerstraat, as well as bins for paper goods. This initiative along the public thoroughfare was first discussed thoroughly with the town council.
The bins will be emptied every four weeks by the company EcoSmart, who will clear up any other litter at the same time and keep an accurate record of the quantity. “By doing so, we’ll have the correct data for evaluating the results and making any adjustments to the infrastructure before we roll the project out to other locations,” says project leader Goedele Daems.
Trying to change behaviour
Colruyt Group believes that it is possible to change behaviour through raising awareness and providing the appropriate infrastructure. That’s why, through the test projects, we will be looking at which types of rubbish bin work and which don’t, and where best to place them. We will also provide banners to make the locations highly visible and create internal communication to tell our staff about it and to raise their awareness.
“We’re beginning with our own company and leading by example, to inspire local residents and customers as well as our employees. A dynamic can develop through which, together, we can reduce litter and even actively clear it up. By doing so, we create a pleasant environment which remains clean and where people can dispose of their litter responsibly,” continues Goedele Daems.
A 5 year commitment
The test project will run for two years and is the second visible initiative in the ‘Joining hands against street litter’ campaign which Colruyt Group launched in 2015, and which runs until the end of 2020. The group is committed to tackling litter, together with employees, customers, hauliers, etc. In 2015, the retailer took action immediately with a clean-up involving some 200 employees who picked up almost 1.500 kg of litter in Halle.
The group was also the driving force behind the agreement between the business community and the Flemish government in early 2016. Amongst other things, the businesses committed themselves to giving additional support to the Flemish government’s litter policy with an investment of €9.6 million per year. In February 2016, a similar agreement was reached with the Walloon government, worth €3.9 million of extra investment. Through this, Colruyt Group is strengthening its social commitment and supporting the government in its fight against litter.
More information on simplysustainable.com.
Contact:
Patti Verdoodt
press@colruytgroup.com
+32 (0)2 363 55 45
+32 (0)473 92 45 10
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- Colruyt Group installs rubbish bins, PMD and smokers’ poles in Halle as part of ‘Joining hands for less street litter’ campaign
Source: Colruyt Group