Mandatory Residential Recycling Multi-Family Charrette Small Group Session Saturday, January 28 th 8:30 am 10:00 am
Current Multi-family Recycling - Who Identified as multi family communities within Mecklenburg County: Apartments Condominiums Townhouses Duplex/Triplexes Nursing homes Patio Homes Assisted living quarters 30% of housing units Countywide are Multi family units y
Current Multi-family Recycling - How Municipal level level education efforts underway County level education efforts underway Multi family lif il homes have access to recycling at County recycling drop off centers Current municipal practices (group discussion) Current participation p (group discussion)
Items that can be recycled now (Mecklenburg County) Plastic bottles & jugs (except #6) Wide mouth plastic containers Rigid plastics Empty aerosol cans Milk & juice cartons, juice boxes Aluminum cans Glass bottles & jars Cereal & food boxes Cardboard boxes (flattened) Magazines & phone books Paperback books Metal food cans Junk mail, mixed paper & newspaper
Items that are not recycled now Pizza boxes Bottle caps or lids Plastic bags Shredded paper Plastic food trays & cups Ceramics Pots & pans Glassware Paper plates & napkins Batteries Light bulbs Wire hangers Takeout food containers Styrofoam
Items Banned from Disposal in Landfills Used oil Yard trash White goods Antifreeze Aluminum cans Whole scrap tires Lead acid batteries Computer Equipment Motor vehicle oil filters Oyster shells Wooden pallets (except in C&D) Recyclables rigid plastic containers (does not apply to motor oil containers)
Discussion Strategies Recycling service required with garbage either free with garbage service or at an extra charge Mandatory recycling requirement Included in your bill Must have the service available (burden on property owner) Must use the service (burden is on the individual) Sustainable building practices (make room for recycling containers)
Case Study Alameda, CA Comprehensive recycling and organics collection to all generators (single family, multifamily and commercial) Cart and dumpster based recycling provided to all generators beginning in 1996 Source separated organics collection provided to all generators beginning in 2001 Mandatoryrecycling recycling and composting for all generators in phases beginning in July 2012 with full implementation by July 2014 Citywide diversion increased from 48% in 1996 (prior to program implementation) to 68% diversion at full implementation (voluntary) Goal is 75%
Feedback from Opening Session Outreach Strategy Marketing to folks to aren t looking for you Expand Yearly Award programs to include neighborhoods, apartments, faith based organizations, etc. Talk about Universal Programs & Bans rather than Mandatory
Advantages and Disadvantages Group discussion Mandatory recycling advantages: Uniform approach, education High diversion potential Mandatory recycling disadvantages: Logistics issues Enforcement High turnover rate (education challenge)
Mandatory Residential Recycling Multi-Family il Recap Key Issues There are challenges at multi family complexes (spaceconstraints constraints, types of containers, color coding, reaching out to tenants) Property managers survey Need more guidance Would like more frequent pick ups Majority feel that the recycling program is important or very important
Mandatory Residential Recycling Multi-Family il Recap Consensus Conclusions Should study mandatory as a future option Need to pursue carrots before sticks Lot s of opportunities for education and outreach first Recycling Ambassadors grassroots volunteers or paid staff, working with code compliance, recycling champions within each complex Profile Model Complexes Provide Best Practices