Halloween spending in North America is projected to hit a staggering US$11.6 billion in 2024, with Canadians contributing an average of $64.20 on costumes, candy, and decorations. While the holiday brings plenty of fun, it also generates a significant amount of waste, particularly from candy wrappers and other flexible plastics. In British Columbia, London Drugs is helping tackle this issue by offering a convenient recycling solution. Through Recycle BC’s ‘Other Flexible Plastics’ program, customers can drop off candy wrappers and other hard-to-recycle plastics at London Drugs locations, making Halloween a little greener. Learn more in our Q&A with Raman Johal, Sustainability Specialist at London Drugs, below. —Noa Nichol
With North American Halloween spending expected to reach US$11.6 billion in 2024, how does London Drugs aim to address the increase in waste generated from Halloween-related products like candy wrappers and decorations?
London Drugs is addressing the expected increase in Halloween waste, with spending projected to reach $11.6 billion in 2024, by expanding its recycling programs, especially for hard-to-recycle flexible plastics like candy wrappers, through its partnership with Recycle BC. The company promotes eco-friendly, reusable decorations and supports brands with sustainable packaging, encouraging bulk candy purchases to reduce single-use wrappers. Through public education campaigns, London Drugs also raises awareness about proper recycling and waste reduction.
Can you explain how London Drugs’ partnership with Recycle BC’s ‘Flexible Plastics’ program works, and why it’s an essential initiative for reducing Halloween waste in British Columbia?
Sometimes the spookiest thing about Halloween happens after all that tasty candy is brought home – all those plastic wrappers ending up in our landfills and environment. But they don’t have to. These materials are typically not accepted in regular curbside recycling programs so by bringing leftover ‘Flexible Plastics’ like wrappers and packaging to London Drugs, they are collected are then sent to Recycle BC’s partner facilities, where they are properly processed and recycled.
This program also raises awareness about the issue of flexible plastic waste, encouraging consumers to think more critically about the packaging they purchase and use, especially during high-consumption events like Halloween. This initiative helps reduce Halloween’s environmental impact by providing a practical, local solution for an often-overlooked waste stream.
Candy wrappers and flexible plastics can be challenging to recycle. How does London Drugs ensure that these materials are properly processed, and what impact do you hope this initiative will have on reducing plastic waste during Halloween?
Customers can bring their wrappers to local British Columbia London Drugs locations and deposit them with Recycle BC’s ‘Flexible Plastics’ program. This is the collection bin that accepts harder-to-recycle (typically items excluded from curbside recycling programs) flexible plastics such as stand-up and zipper lock pouches, crinkly wrappers, chip bags, non-food protective packaging and more. The materials that are collected are then sent to Recycle BC’s partner facilities, where they are properly processed and recycled.
Over the past year, London Drugs has collected over 30 tonnes of Flexible Plastics with Recycle BC.
For a more complete list below or go to RecycleBC for more info. Here are the basics on what is accepted as ‘Flexible Plastic Packaging’ via the program:
This program covers a LOT of bag and package types. The basic accepted types are:
- Plastic Bags
- Outer Bags and Overwrap
- Crinkly Wrappers and Bags
- Zipper-Lock and Stand-Up Pouches
- Flexible Packaging with Plastic Seal
- Woven Plastic Bags
- Protective and Squishy Cushion Packaging
- Empty Bags / Remove Non-Plastic Items
What is NOT accepted in this program?
- NO Plastic-lined paper (or paper-lined plastic!)
- NO biodegradable or oxo plastics
- NO PVC or vinyl
- NO 6-pack rings
- NO Plastic strapping
What advice would you give to consumers who want to enjoy Halloween festivities while being mindful of sustainability, especially when it comes to costumes, decorations, and candy packaging?
Halloween is an opportunity to reuse costumes from previous years or to repurpose clothing found at home and then complete the look with new face paint, makeup, temporary hair colour or coloured contact lenses. A mix of organic items like gourds and pumpkins can be paired with unique spooky décor items like reusable Ghost String LED lights, a Halloween doormat or a Halloween Creepy Sounds Scary Doorbell that will support future ghoulish festivities. Choosing candy that comes in cardboard packaging, but also by collecting candy wrappers, customers are doing their part to keep plastic out of our waste streams by recycling them at your local London Drugs in British Columbia.
Looking beyond Halloween, how does London Drugs plan to continue promoting sustainability and recycling initiatives for other holidays and major consumer events throughout the year?
London Drugs has a long-established reputation for promoting sustainability and recycling initiatives beyond just Halloween. Efforts include various holidays and major consumer events throughout the year, which align with the company’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.
As a major Canadian retailer, London Drugs is proud to serve the communities in which we operate. Believe in Better and London Green are our promise to keep working to find better, greener ways to do business, and to help our customers find the sustainability solutions they seek.
We address sustainability through a four-pillar approach:
- Upstream Purchasing
- Energy & Operations
- Waste Reduction
- Communication & Education
London Drugs offers convenient recycling for our customers, accepting a wide variety of materials from purchases made at our stores. Hard to recycle products like beauty packaging, electronics, batteries, medication disposal and more.
Around gift-giving holidays, London Drugs promotes sustainable gift-wrapping options, such as reusable bags, cloth wrapping, and eco-friendly paper.
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