Taming the Chute Waste Management at Apartment Buildings

Taming the Chute Waste Management at Apartment Buildings

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

Introduction

Region 4

Region 5

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

The Problem Poor participation in recycling and composting programs

The Problem Improper use and abuse of containers

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

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

Translated Sorting Guides

Landlord Practices Common Areas Laundry Room Recycling Display

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

Landlord Practices Separated Storage

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

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

HRM Signage

Chute Signage

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

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

VWRM Apartment Project 2006

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%

Data 15001 Highway 1, Wilmot Percentage 100 80 60 40 20 Green Cart Usage Green Cart Percentage 100 80 60 40 20 Recycling Sorting Quality Good Confused Totally Unsorted 0 1 2 3 4 Inspection 0 1 2 3 4 Inspection Percentage 100 80 60 40 20 0 Garbage Sorting Quality 1 2 3 4 Inspection. Good Confused Totally Unsorted Percentage Garbage to Recycling Ratio 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 2 3 4 Inspection Garbage Recycling

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

Today

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

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

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

Available Tools Property Inspections Home Visits Warnings Fines Court

Warnings 150-175 written warnings per year Benefits of warning Offender becomes a converted recycler Offender learns about significance of offence Offender learns about consequences

Fines 25-30 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

Fines VWRM Bylaw Tickets ( fake SOTs) Tenant $50 Landlord $100 Court Fines Tenant $100-500 Landlord $500-5000

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

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

Questions? Andrea Gibson-Garrett Garrett (902) 679-0920 andreag@vwrm.com Kathy Johnston (902) 490-2865 johnstk@halifax.ca Grace Proszynska (902) 679-0617 gracep@vwrm.com