The Sorter-Shark: keeping the Zugerland Shopping Centre litter-free – with sustainability in mind

Wherever people shop, large amounts of litter are inevitable. For years, the Zugerland Shopping Centre had been using the 70-litre version of the trusted Littershark to keep it clean and tidy. But with the centre’s renovation in 2023, the focus shifted towards even greater sustainability. The idea was to provide shoppers with an easy way to dispose of PET, aluminium, and general waste separately. Building on the long-standing partnership with Littershark and the proven success of the bins, the decision was made to introduce the Sorter-Shark waste separation system.

No sooner said than done: The separation system is now predominantly in use on every floor in the Zugerland Shopping Centre, while the classic Littershark bins by the ticket machines at the exit and in the multistorey car park swallow any litter that customers need to dispose of.

The M3 Sorter separates PET, aluminium and general waste near the escalator and various seating areas, while the M4 model is on duty in the outside areas. When it comes to sustainability, everyone plays their part: Retail giant Migros is also contributing to the Zugerland Shopping Centre’s sustainability strategy by providing separation bins for PET, aluminium and general waste, while the Zugerland collection point is available for all other types of recyclable materials.

Flyer Sorter-Shark

It doesn’t stop there, though: thanks to strategically placed wall-mounted ashtrays in the multistorey car park, smokers can dispose of their cigarette butts safely, cleanly and easily.

The response to the improvements has been overwhelmingly positive: shoppers now dispose of their waste in the correct bins, with only very few items finding their way into the wrong one.

But it’s not just the customers who are delighted with the new Sorter-Shark waste separation system – the cleaning staff, in particular, appreciate the ease with which the sacks inside the bins can be emptied.

These are removed from the separation system with just the flick of a wrist, and then taken to the shopping centre’s waste depot, which is also a collection point for paper and plastic. From there, the collected recyclables are sent to the central warehouse in Dierikon – a textbook example of a sustainable closed-loop system!

 

Project and customer facts

  • The Zugerland Shopping Centre separates PET, aluminium and general rubbish.

  • Litter is mostly disposed of correctly, with very little going in the wrong bin.

  • The Zugerland Shopping Centre boasts 23,049 m² of retail space across three levels.

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