Taming the Chute Waste Management at Apartment Buildings

Transcription

1 Taming the Chute Waste Management at Apartment Buildings

2 Introduction Andrea Gibson-Garrett Garrett Residential Coordinator Kathy Johnston Kathy Johnston Waste Reduction Educator Grace Proszynska Bylaw Enforcement Officer

3 Introduction

4 Region 4

5 Region 5

6 Collection Services Valley Waste HRM Curbside collection provided to all multi-unit dwellings Buildings over 6 units in size required to contract waste hauler

7 The Problem Poor participation in recycling and composting programs

8 The Problem Improper use and abuse of containers

9 Landlord Practices Lease Include waste management in the lease Talk to tenants about expectations sorting waste move in-out material using storage area

10 Landlord Practices Extras Place laminated sorting guides in cupboard or on fridge Free recycling bags or boxes Free composting bags or kitchen bin Line green carts

11 Translated Sorting Guides

12 Landlord Practices Common Areas Laundry Room Recycling Display

13 Landlord Practices Storage Curbside Collection Keep storage area clean & in good repair Keep green carts clean Monitor storage area regularly Good storage design

14 Landlord Practices Separated Storage

15 Landlord Practices Storage Commercial Collection Indoors: Clustering bins together Signage directing to storage area Chute signage of rules, directions to storage, etc.

16 Landlord Practices Storage Commercial Collection Outdoors: Provide source separated containers (rented or homemade) Clustering bins together Clear signage

17 HRM Signage

18 Chute Signage

19 Penalties Imposed by Landlords Commercially Collected Curbside Collected Seal off chutes Security cameras Marked bags Mandatory education session Damage deposit Indoor storage Limited access to storage bin Mandatory education session

20 Educators Commercially Collected Provide owner with sorting guides Education sessions Simple & clear signage for bins Cultural barriers: sorting guides translated Curbside Collection Be as hands on as possible Education sessions or door to door visits Keep message simple Cultural barriers: volunteer translators Revisit problem buildings VWRM apartment project

21 VWRM Apartment Project 2006

22 Survey Results 3. What is your biggest obstacle to recycling? SPACE A) Rules are too confusing/don t know how B) Takes too much time C) It s too messy D) Odours E) Costs F) Space requirements 40% 6% 20% 14% 9% 11% 4. What is your biggest obstacle to composting? MESS/ODOUR A) Rules are too confusing/don t know how 21% B) Takes too much time C) It s too messy D) Odours E) Costs F) Space requirements 0% 35% 3% 3% 38%

23 Data Highway 1, Wilmot Percentage Green Cart Usage Green Cart Percentage Recycling Sorting Quality Good Confused Totally Unsorted Inspection Inspection Percentage Garbage Sorting Quality Inspection. Good Confused Totally Unsorted Percentage Garbage to Recycling Ratio Inspection Garbage Recycling

24 Results 6 month period 224 apartment units contacted 62 written warnings (30% of all units) 5 Bylaw Tickets issued (2% of all units)

25 Today

26 Bylaw Enforcement Who is a municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer? Special Constable Legal empowerment When it s time to switch from education to enforcement

27 Bylaw Enforcement Work with Educators, Waste Haulers & Complainants Effective component of communication strategy (good cop/ bad cop) An effective tool for behavioral change

28 Legislation NS Environment Act VWRM has Municipal Bylaws that address waste resource management Sorting waste Storage and collection requirements Illegal dumping & burning

29 Available Tools Property Inspections Home Visits Warnings Fines Court

30 Warnings written warnings per year Benefits of warning Offender becomes a converted recycler Offender learns about significance of offence Offender learns about consequences

31 Fines fines per year Administrative penalties & SOTs Whether tenants and landlords are recipient, they often change behaviour after a fine Supers/ Landlords sometimes welcome the fine so that they can use it as a wake-up call to their tenants

32 Fines VWRM Bylaw Tickets ( fake SOTs) Tenant $50 Landlord $100 Court Fines Tenant $ Landlord $

33 Court 2-3 court cases/ year Pros Court can be effective tool in behavioural change Media release after taking landlord to court spur calls from other landlords Cons Costly and time consuming Burden of proof is on the municipality Photos, documentation & witnesses required Involvement of lawyer to prosecute

34 Bottom Line Develop a good relationship with the landlord and agents Be persistent Enforcement is an important component

35 Questions? Andrea Gibson-Garrett Garrett (902) Kathy Johnston (902) Grace Proszynska (902)