IPC unveils upgraded Recycling and Buy-Back Centre

The newly revamped and upgraded Recycling and Buy-Back Centre (RBBC) opened its door yesterday at the IPC. The centre elevates consumers’ recycling journey to a seamless and digitalised experience. 

The new IPC RBBC is located in the same zone in P1 Carpark.

It is also strategically located for easy accessibility for shoppers to drop off their recyclables when they visit IPC Shopping Centre.

IPC included more recyclable categories

Since its inception in 2009, the centre started with six recyclable categories – cardboard, newspaper, paper, plastics, metal, and aluminium. 

The upgraded digitalised version now accepts various recyclables such as drink cartons, polystyrene, and textiles.

Moreover, the new RBBC can also accept non-recyclable waste categories such as light tubes and bulbs, medicine, glass, battery, electronic waste and food waste to reduce waste disposal from piling into landfills. 

Upgraded IPC loyalty program

General Manager of IPC Shopping Centre Karyn Lim said that the RBBC would be an engaging green community centre that integrates with our business. 

The upgraded RBBC bridge our loyalty program with shoppers and tenants, making every gram of their green-making effort count. 

The improvements provide a digital user-friendly vending concept mechanism to enhance the user experience more sustainably.

She added that we hope to inspire and grow more green-makers in the community through the digitalised RBBC to keep our environment greener and incubate the younger generation.

The digitalised experience

Head of Customer Experience and Digital of Ikano Centres, Natasha Aziz, said that sustainability has always been deep-rooted within Ikano Centres’ business approach across our meeting places. 

“This newly upgraded RBBC is an excellent example of our efforts to strengthen our commitment to encourage our communities to create a more significant impact on people and the planet,” said Natasha.

This new digitalised experience can also increase the accuracy of data collection on recycled items, improving operational efficiency and growing loyalty to plan and execute tactical rewards and marketing programs. 

Patrons who recycle with the RBBC will be rewarded with points linked to IPC Tack Club membership via the mobile app. Points are awarded based on the categories and weight and exchanged for shopping e-vouchers, free parking, and much more.

Sustainable practices

The newly upgraded IPC RBBC also uses sustainable materials such as AAC green building material, low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), water-based indoor paints and LED advanced lighting for energy saving. 

On the back end, IPC re-uses tarpaulin visual from the tenants’ hoardings which are then sewed and repurposed as reusable bags by working with Woman of Will, a local NGO.

IPC also works with various recycling partners to process and repurpose the collected waste from the RBBC, such as Kualiti Alam Hijau, to properly dispose of hazardous waste such as lightbulbs and tubes, batteries, and medicine. 

Some of the many initiatives include using renewable energy technology with the installation of 2,370 solar panels on the rooftop and rainwater harvesting that is filtered and used to flush toilets and for landscaping purposes. 

In conjunction with the launch of the newly upgraded RBBC, IPC Shopping Centre is running a recycling green campaign where they are offering double the rewards for paper, plastic, and aluminium waste in their annual Green Campaign – “Smarter, Greener, Together”. 

From 1 July to 4 September 2022, in collaboration with Nestlé and Tumboh, shoppers who drop off the following weight of recyclables will be entitled to receive the following rewards from the i-Counter located on the Ground Floor: