As Caron points out below, there will be many who write this off as “typical corporate gobbledygook”, but I appreciate the reply nonetheless. Kenny to tour Highpoint next week and ask even more pesky questions! Some research of shopping malls and their history is called for!

This is a reply to my letter to Highpoint, which you can read here.

Dear Mr Weir

Thank you for taking the time to raise your concerns with respect to recycling the plastic food utensils at Highpoint Shopping Centre. One of the challenges we have with your observations is that these products are currently deemed non recyclable once they come in to contact with cooked foods. This is the same for cardboard and the polystyrene food boxes.

GPT and Transpacific, whom are our waste service provider and constantly looking at viable ways to improve our waste streams and to ensure we recycle as much as possible. GPT Highpoint currently recycles between 40-50 % of the total waste from our shopping centre via the following waste streams:

1. Cardboard

2. Polystyrene

3. Plastic bags

4. Light globes

5. Used cooking oil

6. Wooden pallets

7. Coat Hangers.

A large proportion of our development work is also underpinned with sound sustainability principles with the majority of the demolition materially being recycled. There are also very strong sustainability initiatives being installed as part of the development of Highpoint

You may or may not know that GPT are currently one of the leaders in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and has been externally recognised many times for it’s approach to sustainability. As a business we are constantly looking at new technologies as they come to market as well as investing in many initiatives to improve the communities we live in and to minimise our impact on our environment and resources.

We would be more than happy to take you through some of our other initiatives such as our eco foot print calculator used when our tenants build shops and the work we do with several key community partners which may be of interest to you. Or we are more than happy to share with you the key sustainability initiatives that are being implemented as part of our development.

Should you wish to discuss your concern in more detail or want to gain further insights in how GPT and Highpoint shopping centre are working towards our sustainability objectives, we would be only to willing to offer the time to do so. To that end, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on 0402 147 807 if I can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely

Scott Crellin

Centre Manager

Highpoint Shopping Centre

The GPT Group