Walmart Canada makes history with recycling pilot

Walmart Canada is the first major retailer in Canada to run a national pilot program to recycle reusable shopping bags.

Starting Monday, April 15, 2024, the Canadian subsidiary of Walmart is offering customers the free “Walmart Blue Bag Recycling Program” in partnership with international recycling provider TerraCycle. The initiative enables customers across Canada to send in their excess or damaged Walmart reusable blue shopping bags. 

Shoppers can sign up to join the program at a dedicated page on the TerraCycle site, and then collect their extra reusable blue Walmart shopping bags. On Monday, April 22 (Earth Day), customers can package up their bags, with a minimum of five bags and a maximum package size of 18x18x18 inches, apply a pre-paid label from TerraCycle and drop the package at UPS locations for free delivery.

Once collected, TerraCycle will take the eligible bags and either launder and donate them for reuse by charity partners, including Food Banks Canada, or recycle damaged bags into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products, such as plastic shipping pallets, outdoor furniture and more.

TerraCycle has also partnered with Walmart Canada’s U.S. parent company Walmart Inc. and its Sam’s Club warehouse club subsidiary to recycle plastic food and beverage packaging. 

"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,” said Barbazza.

"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."

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day, as well as its flagship online store, Walmart.ca.