Waste-hauling costs are increasing and recycling policies are becoming stricter. Apartment operators are seeing the effects and are taking a variety of steps to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In Part 12 of this 13-part, in-depth report, learn how some communities are pleasing their residents by providing composting stations.
Several apartment management companies are implementing composting stations for their residents’ use. The stations – required in some jurisdictions—help communities to meet their landfill diversion goals.
Bozzuto is composting in a handful of communities, says its Director of Sustainability Pete Zadoretzky, “however, it’s something we’re actively exploring on a larger scale with multiple models to fit resident demographics, building type, and engagement level at each property.
“There has been positive feedback in our communities that have requested the service and where it’s mandated. Residents are increasingly aware of municipal mandates and diversion goals and actively participate to promote waste reduction.”
AvalonBay is introducing the stations on a trial basis with the goal of reducing the overall amount and number of trips required to remove its landfill-bound waste.
Mark Delisi, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, AvalonBay, says his company’s internal innovation platform, AVB Labs, this year created its own composter concept, which turns waste into dirt overnight. The machine will debut at its Avalon Santa Monica on Main community.
That composter could help to offset the typical cost for composting machines, which he estimates at $20,000, plus another $500 for resident bins, depending on community size.
Zadoretzky says compost haulers generally consolidate monthly equipment rental and pick-up costs, for which he is seeing $40 to $100, depending on size. Bozzuto properties in New York City receive free organics bins from the city that are collected weekly as party of the city’s organics policy.
Prometheus Real Estate Group, with communities in California, Oregon and Washington, have both composting and recycling in about 50 percent of its portfolio. California has mandatory recycling requirements so most of the cities are piloting programs or had rolled out composting last year, says Mary Nitschke, its Director of Ancillary Services.
“Our residents view it positively,” Nitschke says. “They are typically asking for it in our surveys. I have had some residents do composting on their patios prior to us being able to roll out it. The demand is there.”
Nitschke says the biggest problem with compost is smell, followed by ants and then maggots.
“Yet, bacteria is always my biggest concern,” she says. “People don’t understand that fermenting compost is a super dangerous breeding ground for bacteria, specifically staph. A woman I know who is a backyard composting expert and teaches composting practices for the City of San Jose contracted Staph. You have to be really careful and make sure your team and residents are fully aware of not sticking any exposed skin into composting bins. It’s all about communication.
As for the smell, Nitschke says she is testing a variety of products and the simplest solution is to dump weekly, whether or not the bins are full, and then to routinely power-wash the containers.
“We do our best to procure the best equipment with locks/seals to prevent smells and vermin, and keep the area clean,” Zadoretzky says. “However, keeping residents educated and engaged is our strongest defense against composting issues.”
Camden is not currently considering composting.
“Those machines take up space that we don’t really have,” Rick Pippin says. “It also involves a lot of manpower that can be better spent elsewhere.”
Back to the Trash Talking in-depth report or read the part 13 story: Recyclable Glass is a Broken Market.