It looks like an old Sylvania building is being converted into a “Green Dorm” for the students of Salem State College. 525 students will live within the building, said to be one the more eco-friendly dormitories in Massachusetts. Students will also be excited to know they can eat in their own dining hall - Salem State’s first in a dorm. So what makes this new student dorm “green”?
Roofs will either have soil and ground covers to absorb rain or white thermoplastic membranes to reflect the heat
Carpets made of recycled fibers
Furniture made of recycled plastic and steel
They hope to erect solar panels soon! An alternate Salem State building is slated to receive solar panels this summer.
There are seven basic steps to planning and implementing a successful recycling program in an apartment or multifamily complex.
1) Designate a coordinator.
The coordinator can be anyone who wants to get involved. A landlord, property manager or maintenance person is often the best choice. These individuals are familiar with the waste management system and the residents, and are in the best positions to communicate with Eric Z and residents to find out what will work and what will not. If there is a tenant association, a committee could also be involved in reviewing plans, implementing the program, and promoting participation.
2) Determine method of sorting and containers needed.
The next step is to determine how materials will be sorted and the number of containers needed to handle the quantity of recyclable materials that will be collected. Materials you collect may depend on how much storage space is available, or what materials available haulers pick up. Often residents are required to separate their recyclables into at least two bins: mixed paper and commingled containers. Commingled collection combines plastic, aluminum, and steel/tin food and beverage containers into a single bin.
3) Arrange for pick-up.
Recycling services are rarely offered for free, but you should be able to renegotiate the total cost of collection services for trash and recyclables with your current waste hauler. Begin by checking your waste collection contract for any recycling-related terms, costs, and conditions. If your current trash hauler or maintenance staff does not collect and transport recyclables at a reasonable cost, feel free to contact Eric Z Disposal for these services.
4) Plan the storage and collection system.
Identify a location for the collection and storage systems. Be sure to take into account the wheeled cart or toter size needed, and consult with your maintenance staff and hauler to select carts or toters that are compatible with current waste collection procedures and practices, (i.e., material transfer and loading). Haulers are usually able to provide necessary equipment, but it’s possible that you will have to purchase the building’s collection containers and/or storage equipment. If residents are directed to deposit their trash in outside containers (dumpsters, barrels, or totes), dedicated recycling containers should be located in the same general area. In buildings that use trash rooms or chutes, every effort should be made to position the recycling collection containers near trash collection locations. Your maintenance staff may need to transport recyclables to a central location for pick-up. If paper will be stored inside for more than a day, check with your local Fire Department for any specific requirements.
5) Set up your collection and storage system and start the program.
Prior to launching the educational program, be sure that all the containers are in place, and reconfirm pick up arrangements with your hauler. Prior to the start-up of your program check one more time with maintenance staff to ensure they know what their responsibilities are during the first few weeks.
6) Provide basic education.
Education of program participants should begin with posters or letters explaining the program, why it is being implemented, and when it will begin. This can be followed by a brochure or flyer that explains how, what, where, and when to recycle. These are best delivered along with recycling baskets/bins, if applicable. It is also a good idea to recruit volunteers from each apartment building or from each floor of the building to help announce the program, encourage cooperation, monitor the collection system, and answer questions from participants.
7) Monitor program and provide follow-up services.
Recycling will significantly change how residents are expected to handle their trash, and they will need encouragement and reminders to establish these new habits. Try to resolve problems on an on-going basis. Many new programs experience a brief “shake-down” period. During this time, a coordinator (or another contact) must be available to answer questions from participants and troubleshoot operational issues.On a regular basis, report back to the participants on their progress. Charting the quantities collected each month and publishing comparisons with previous months helps residents to appreciate the results of their efforts. Keep this information as timely and concise as possible. In some situations, reduced disposal bills can be converted into a more tangible incentive program. For example, let the residents know that the savings from recycling go towards upgrading shared facilities such as laundry rooms or lobby areas. Or, the savings might defer the need for rent increases.Once in place, the recycling program will not require much time to coordinate. Your personnel will soon see recycling as just another part of their routine maintenance responsibilities. The benefits will continue for your apartment building, your bottom line, and the environment.
For more information:
Contact your municipal Department of Public Works (DPW) or Board of Health (BOH) to ask how apartment buildings, condominiums or other multi-family dwellings are serviced by your community.
Go to the web site of the Earth’s 911 organization at www.cleanup.org, and enter your 5-digit zip code to see a profile of a specific municipal recycling program. Please note that some cities and towns may not specifically list information on how they service multi-family buildings on this site.
Here’s a slideshow of a recycling program we set up in Salem, Massachusetts. What do you think?
Contact the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Municipal Waste Reduction Program for program information at (617) 556-1021 (www.mass.gov/dep/recycle).
A primary component of a successful recycling program is comprehensive public education. To educate consumers about recycling, some common icons were developed to denote the concept of recycling (such as the “chasing arrows” symbol). These recycling symbols are often used to inform consumers about the ability of a product to be recycled or its recycled content.
Three of the most common recycling symbols are:
The Chasing Arrows – Most people recognize the chasing arrows recycling symbol, but may not know what the three arrows mean. Generally the three arrows represent the three, key elements of recycling:
Collection
Manufacturing
Reuse
Contrary to popular belief, collection alone is not recycling. Recycling does not happen until recovered materials become new products.
Pre-Consumer/Post-Consumer Label – Ideally, people should be purchasing products made of recycled content rather than virgin raw material. However, a question that is frequently and sometimes passionately debated is “When does recycling occur during the life cycle of a product?” Some recycled content products (such as paper) indicate both the percent of pre-consumer and post-consumer content of recyclable materials in their product.
Plastics #1-7 – Many communities have incorporated plastic bottles into their recycling programs. However, plastic packaging and products can be made out of seven different types of plastic resin, and most recycling programs only accept plastic bottles made out of #1 PET and #2 HDPE. The Society for the Plastics Industry adopted a voluntary coding system to identify plastic resin content. Some U.S. states have made these labels mandatory.
The Marblehead Reporter covered our recent program to help businesses reduce their waste amount by recycling their old cardboard. You can check out the article here: Marblehead business recycling program.
Are you a Marblehead business that wants to learn about going green and recycling your cardboard? We can help you! There’s great benefits to the program including:
Save Money: Cardboard is bulky and occupies space in containers. Depending on the vertical, businesses can make profits on the sale of collected cardboard. At the very least, businesses could lessen waste fees by preparing it for hauler pickups.
Value Added Service: Recycling gives positive buzz to your business. Letting customers know of your recycling efforts is great. Many of your customers also made the shift to a greener lifestyle and will welcome your efforts.
Divert materials from disposal: Cardboard is highly recyclable waste. Keeping this material out of the waste stream will mean saving landfill space.
Recently, we assisted a property management company in Salem, Massachusetts in creating a custom recycling program for one of their properties. The residents requested a program that could reduce their overall waste amount. With a large garbage room in the basement, there was plenty of space for containers to hold recyclables.
Since the program began, the residents have been very responsive and everything is running smoothly. We’re seeing a significant conversion of trash to recyclables - resulting in less waste to be disposed. While we can’t do this for every town, Salem is fortunate enough to have a recycling facilty at its access to help their residents be green.
Eric Z Disposal is a waste management company operating on the north shore of Massachusetts. We specialize in dumpster rentals, junk removal, and demolition.
A primary component of a successful recycling program is comprehensive public education. To educate consumers about recycling, some common icons were developed to denote the concept of recycling (such as the “chasing arrows” symbol). These recycling symbols are often used to inform consumers about the ability of a product to be recycled or its recycled content.
The Marblehead Reporter covered our recent program to help businesses reduce their waste amount by recycling their old cardboard. You can check out the article here: 
