Apartments (MFDs)
From Trash to More Cash...
How Recycling Programs Can Work for You
Start or Expand Recycling for Rental Housing and Reduce Trash Costs
It is one of the three R's of the environmental field: reduce, reuse, and recycle. For some people, it's a way of life. For others, it is an annoyance. Recycling is the process of extracting useful materials from waste — perhaps not the most glamorous of industries, but something that has gotten the attention of property owners due to the rising costs of waste disposal. A California bill, known as the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, requires all cities to reduce waste going to the landfills by 50% by the year 2000 and sustain this diversion level. Unfortunately, many cities have not met that goal, and are looking for ways to meet that goal under time extensions and through exponentially increasing rates. One of the relatively untapped gold mines for recycling is the multifamily building. What can you do to reap benefits from this gold mine?
Reduce Garbage Bills and Provide Effective Recycling Services
In the San Francisco Bay Area, many residents of rental housing want to participate in residential recycling programs, and even take great strides to properly return their recyclable materials even when recycling is not offered in their complex. How can you provide a successful building recycling program that can help reduce your garbage bills while meeting resident needs?
Jumping on the recycling bandwagon is easy, but creating a successful program requires a combination of strategies and procedures. Each community is unique, so you will need to work closely with your local hauler to determine the best combination of tools that will work for you. In San Mateo County, BFI-Peninsula provides garbage and recycling services for eleven communities. At no additional cost, the company offers recycling service to rental housing of five or more units in the communities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, unincorporated San Mateo County, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, and San Mateo. A BFI Recycling Coordinator can conduct an onsite recycling assessment and meet with the property manager with recommendations. In consultation with the property management and maintenance staff, the Recycling Coordinator offers recommendations on the best locations for recycling containers, training and education materials to tenants and maintenance staff, or other assistance the manager may need. The Coordinator organizes delivery of the recycling containers and changes to the garbage service. Once the container are in place, the Coordinator will follow up with the property manager as needed to address any issues the manager may have about implementation and effective implementation of the recycling program.
