A shopping centre is laying claim to being the greenest retail complex in Wales.
After a major campaign, the busy Eagles Meadow centre in Wrexham now recycles 93 per cent of its waste materials.
On top of that last year they cut water consumption by 20 per cent and electricity use by 11 per cent.
It means the centre is streets ahead of the Welsh Government’s target of recycling 50 per cent of waste in 2012.
Manager Kevin Critchley is extremely proud of their record but says they aren’t resting on their laurels.
Mr Critchley said: “We believe we may well be the greenest shopping centre in Wales.
“Improving our green credentials and upping our game in terms of recycling is a major part of my job and one we take very seriously at Eagles Meadow.
“We believe the figures speak for themselves. In total last year we produced 253,983 kgs of waste.- of that only 17,385 kgs or seven per cent went to landfill.
“That meant that 236,957 kgs of waste was recovered for recycling, giving us a 93 per cent recycling success rate.
“We recycle 100 per cent of our cardboard and 100 per cent of our glass.
“To put it in some sort of perspective, our recycling percentage in 2010 was 84 per cent and that’s from almost zero from when I arrived here in 2009.
“It’s a superb performance, and I’m rightly proud of the efforts we’ve made and the work that the staff and the contractor have put into it.
“Fortunately, we’re backed up by an owner who’s got a very green policy and has provided fantastic support.
“Sending waste to a material recycling facility is more expensive than landfill but we would rather pay slightly more and have 93 recycled.
“At the same time last year, we reduced our electricity consumption by 11 per cent.
“There wasn’t one quick gain – just lots and lots of small savings spread right across the year, right across the centre.
“That involved back of house savings, lighting controls, timing controls and constant vigilance.
“It was a determined 12 month slog to reduce energy consumption, and we were very successful and that is down to the staff.
“At the same time we reduced our water consumption by 20 per cent – it’s all simple routine stuff with constant attention to detail by my staff.
“For example, we check the public toilets daily. As well as checking in terms of hygiene, we’re also making sure the toilets are not constantly flushing and that the taps aren’t dripping.”
The news is music to the ears of one of the centre’s newest tenants.
Matthew Langwine, the manager of outdoor clothing specialists Trespass was delighted to hear about the green revolution at Eagles Meadow.
He said: “Trespass was founded on the West Coast of Scotland and protecting the environment is an important part of our ethos.
“Eagles Meadow are obviously leading the way here in Wales which is terrific news.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Andy Elvis, the manager of the Odeon cinema complex which includes a Costa coffee shop.
He said: “The Odeon has its own green policy where we look to conserve energy and recycle as much as possible.
“The fact that Eagles Meadow recycling 93 per cent of all its waste is absolutely fantastic.”
