Walmart Canada launches unique bag recycling initiative

Walmart Canada is the first major retailer in Canada to offer its customers a national pilot program to recycle their reusable shopping bags.

Through the free Walmart Blue Bag Recycling Program powered by TerraCycle, the international leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials, customers across the country can send in their excess or damaged Walmart reusable blue shopping bags to help give them a second life. Once collected, TerraCycle will take the eligible bags and either launder and donate the bags for reuse by charity partners, including Food Banks Canada, or recycle damaged bags into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products, like plastic shipping pallets, outdoor furniture, and more.

"We know that transitioning away from single-use plastic bags two years ago has been a learning curve for Canadians – and we're proud to be learning alongside them as we make this change together. Today, we're proud to offer Canadians an opportunity for a "fresh start" by launching our national reusable bag recycling pilot program," said Jennifer Barbazza, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Walmart Canada. "This first-of-its-kind national recycling pilot program will allow Canadians to give their excess or damaged reusable blue bags a second life, free of charge, preventing them from taking up space at home or heading to landfill."

"As the largest grocery retailer in Canada to implement a reusable bag recycling program, Walmart is leading the way by taking voluntary action to reduce the reusable shopping bags that end up in landfills and incinerators," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. "In addition, this first-of-its-kind program also provides an opportunity for bags that are still in good condition to be put to good use by Food Banks Canada."