Hi,
Is anyone aware of providing limited-scale (single cart) recycling service for sub-groups of apartment tenants in complexes with typical commercial-style (shared dumpster) garbage service? We have apartment tenants that would like recycling service, but their complex or property manager does not condone or offer it. Rates are structured so that the cost of recycling is built into the cost of garbage for our multi-family complexes, so there is no extra cost to the property to offer recycling. However, the complex can be charged if the recycling is contaminated - and this is one of the main reasons why property managers will not offer recycling - since contamination seems to occur despite all our education efforts (how to limit contamination in broader scale multi-family recycling programs will be the subject of another CBSM inquiry!). Now, we are considering allowing a single tenant (or group of tenants) to have their own recycling cart (at no charge) when the property manager does not want to take on the responsibility. We think the tenants would do a better job of 'policing' their 'own' cart than if the recycling containers get placed along-side communal garbage containers. Nothing in our contract says everyone has to have access to recycling in a complex, or that a threshold of service volume is required before rolling out recycling service to a complex. Of course, our contracted hauler won't like this approach because of the lack of route density, but that is another issue we can deal with in other ways. Is anyone aware of a place that has implemented or talked about a targeted program like this? Any pitfalls or suggestions for making it work?
Thanks,
Jeanette
Jeanette Brizendine
Recycling Project Manager
City of Federal Way
33325 8th Ave S
Mailing: PO Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063
P 253.835.2771
F 253.835.2709
[email protected]
Limited-Scale Recycling Service for Apartment Tenants
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This is so timely. I am an apartment resident myself and was concerned about the lack of recycling in my apartment complex. I called my City to find out who my waste hauler was and then contacted the waste hauler directly. To my pleasant surprise, the waste hauler offered to deliver a 90 gallon cart to my complex for me to use (recycling is free for residents). The waste hauler did not require me to go through my property manager. Once the cart arrives I plan on going to talk to the tenants and inform them about the new recycling cart (we only have around 15 apartments). Perhaps this can be a CBSM way of getting the word out...appointing "recycling leaders" in various complexes throughout each City so that it's actually one of the apartment tenants who takes the leadership role in helping to improve the environment by tackling the issue locally- right in their own complex.
Erica Hooper
S. Groner Associates, Inc (SGA)
4510 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. 300
Long Beach, CA 90804
p|(562) 597-0205
f |(562) 597-0231
www.sga-inc.net