dumpsterDiary: August 2020

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Recycling Quiz using our photos

Updated 23Aug. See #10 & 11 below.

Each of these items are either not eligible for recycling in our dumpsters, or need to be modified first.

Ready?

Answers are over here.

1. There are 2 things wrong with this Amazon box. (Ignore the white box in front.) What are they?

2. There are 2 of these boxes in the group photo. The same two things are wrong with both.

3. One thing wrong with this box, but's tough.

4. Do you recognize this white material? Is it allowed in the recycling dumpster?

5. 3 different problems in this segment. (Ignore the cardboard.)

6. What's wrong with THIS box?

7. The white stuff on the left should be obvious. The bag on the right, too, but maybe you can't see what's inside.

8: Multiple problems here, but it takes 2 photos to reveal them.

and

9. Same dumpster, different day; 1 familiar issue, 1 different.

10. (Sun 23Aug) If you think this one is ok, think again.

11. And here? You might need to click on this image to make it larger.

That's all for now. How did you do?

For more examples, see this page.

Friday, August 21, 2020

WM Recycle Right Poster

Click to go to this Poster on wm.com

Close-ups:

Always Recycle These

Flattened Cardboard & Paperboard

Plastic Bottles & Containers

Food & Beverage Cans

Paper

Glass Bottles & Containers

Do NOT include These in your Mixed Recycling Container (Dumpster):

NO Loose Plastic Bags, Bagged Recyclables or Film
Empty recyclables directly into your bin
See this page for where to recycle plastic bag/film.

NO Food or Liquids

NO Foam Cups & Containers

NO Batteries - check local drop-off programs for proper disposal

No Green Waste

NO Clothing, Furniture, Carpet, Appliances

To learn more, click here.

Monday, August 17, 2020

Three days: Revamp of OTT Recycling

Please read the recycling rules! https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right

FLATTEN all BOXES
NO Plastic bags/film/bubbles
Think: might this get tangled in a sorting machine? If so, it’s trash or perhaps return-to-store.
All recycling should be LOOSE in the bin. NOT in boxes or bags, not even IN paper bags.
NO Styrofoam

WM charges us an EXTRA $53/bin/pickup when the recycling is "contaminated", and just having a couple of plastic bags is sufficient. See an actual video of WM "evidence" we had "contaminated" recycling.

Note that Ralphs market has a plastic bag (types 2, 4 and "return to store" only) outside the Alton Square store. Others stores provide this too.

On 15July, Powerstone sent this email blast. On 10Aug, Powerstone sent this email blast. (If you're not subscribing to email blasts, contact dhoff_at_powerstonepm.com, but with @ instead)

Wed 19Aug (Day Three)

Removed from 4000 recycling. These are new in 24hrs.
See 4 plastic bags with recycling. NO plastic bags/film allowed.
At least 1 of the bags had both trash and recycling in it. Trashed all but a few items on top.
The tall box had styrofoam in it, also not allowed by WM, trashed contents.
All boxes were flattened and returned, except 2 produce crates that are just too sturdy.
Cardboard from a trash bin was rescued to compensate.
Elapsed time: 23min

Removed from 2000 recycling bin.
All that flexible plastic would incur a surcharge from WM.
One of the boxes had a handful of animal feces in a paper towel;
that's not recyclable, really, not even the used paper towel.
Boxes were flattened and returned.
Elapsed time: 7min

Tues 18Aug (Day Two)

Items REMOVED from 4000 recycling bin.
All boxes were flattened and returned.
NO plastic bags. They were emptied into the recycler, and bags were trashed.
Time to do that: 14min

Removed from 2000 recycling bin.
Boxes were flattened and returned.
Plastic bags/films were trashed.

Boxes removed from 2000 TRASH, flattened, and placed in recycler.
Time to finish 2000 recycling edits: 30min

Mon 17Aug2020

The 2000 bin, BEFORE.
Note the big Kirkland plastic bag in the back, the clear plastic bag on the left,
and the 3 non-flat Lite Pilsner boxes.

Removed. The flexible plastic is not allowed by WM;
lots of smaller plastic bags/film are inside.
The clear bag was trash, not recycling.

2000 bin AFTER.
Couldn't reach the Bemis boxes in the back.
Time since "before" photo: 16min

4000 bin BEFORE.
Notice 2 white bags center right, plastic material center left,
and unflattened box on right.

SOME of the "contamination" items.
The Amazon box can be flattened,
the pizza box just needed the food removed.
Styrofoam is NOT allowed.
Plastic bags/film are not allowed.
And recycling is NOT reclamation. No appliances are allowed.

4000 bin AFTER.
Time since "before" photo: 13min

10Aug email blast (text)

Orange Tree Terrace - Recycling: NO plastic bags; Flatten boxes; more....

From:Danielle Hoff (dhoff@powerstonepm.com)

To:dhoff@powerstonepm.com

Date:Monday, August 10, 2020, 12:13 PM PDT

Good afternoon, Orange Tree Terrace Owners,

On July 15 we sent you a notification about recycling "contamination." That's Waste Management’s (“WM”) jargon for anything that should not have been recycled. Thank you for the improvements so far.

But we need everyone to cut down (flatten) ALL boxes (frozen dinner boxes all the way up through shipping cartons), AND we need you NOT to bag your recyclables. (Bag your trash, yes, but not recycling.) Other restrictions:

No plastic bags
No plastic wrap and film
No flexible packaging
No cups with wax or plastic coating
No polystyrene foam or plastic

WM mentions that flexible plastic, like bags, get tangling in their machinery. So that means those inflatable plastic shipping bumpers don't go in our dumpsters either. They should be able to go to the collection bin at participating stores. https://how2recycle.info/sdo

For more information about our dumpster recycling: https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right/recycling-101

Please help us avoid fines and fees, so we can avoid an increase to Association Dues!

Owners with tenants, please share this important information!

Thank you!

15July email blast (text)

Orange Tree Terrace - Recycle Bins - IMPORTANT

From:Danielle Hoff (dhoff@powerstonepm.com)

To:dhoff@powerstonepm.com

Date:Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 05:23 PM PDT

Hello Orange Tree Terrace Owners,

We are experiencing an issue with the trash pick-ups. Some of you may have noticed that the recycle bins have not been picked up consistently, leaving the bins overflowing and the enclosures a big mess. This is due to contamination. Contamination means something that is not recyclable; such as regular household trash. Only recyclable items may go on the recyclable bins. All other household trash must go in the trash bin.

If Waste Management notes any items in the recycle bins that should not be, they will consider the bin contaminated and will not pick it up. Management is not informed for several days, often longer, and then has to request a special trash pick up and the Association is charged for it. The Association is not budgeted for these extra pick ups and if it doesn’t discontinue immediately, assessments will need to be raised to afford it. Not to mention that the enclosures left with overflowing bins and messes is not only an eyesore but is also unsanitary.

Attached is a document found on the Waste Management website that discusses recycling, including what should and should not be in the recycle bin. Please take a moment to read the attachment.

Please use thought when throwing things in the enclosures. Please put trash in the trash bins and recyclables only in the recycle bins and contact management when you need to schedule a large item pick-up; such as couches and mattresses, rather than just leaving the items at the enclosures.

Owners with tenants, it is imperative that you pass this information along to your tenants.

Side Note: Not too long ago, someone left an old mattress in the hallway of one of the buildings. The owner of the mattress didn’t even bother to drag it out to the enclosure, let alone call for a large item pick up. This is not allowed. Orange Tree Terrace is not a college dorm or an apartment building. No one is responsible to dispose of abandoned personal items in the buildings and trash service is not free.

Let’s work together to keep the enclosures clean and the assessments down. We thank you in advance for your anticipated understanding and cooperation.

Thank you!

Attachment: PDF of this brochure

https://www.wm.com/content/dam/wm/documents/RecyclingResources/Posters-Guides-Tools/Recyling-Myths.pdf

Friday, August 14, 2020

Plastic Bag/Film Recycling, Styrofoam

See below for other sites/resources.

You might be surprised at which packaging is NOT recyclable, or needs to be returned to a store. Here's Amazon's page about it.

To recycle clean styrofoam, see this site. Do NOT put it in our recycling dumpster.

click to enlarge photo.

taken ~6:30am, Fri 14Aug2020 at Ralphs, Alton Square shopping center.

Plastic Film Recycling

This page has good illustrations of what their affiliates accept, which is more than what the Ralphs container indicates.

It also has a link to search for locations, and results lean heavily toward Target, Kohl's, Vons, Food4Less, and, ironically, the Waste Management location on Construction Circle.

How2Recycle

This page has good illustrations of what their affiliates accept, which seems a little narrower than Plastic Film Recycling. However, the link to search for locations leads you directly to the Plastic Film Recycling site!

The PFR site says:

*Not all items are accepted at all drop-off locations. Check with your local drop-off to see what is accepted.

So maybe pick your favorite location, and check before you bring your first batch.

The PFR site says:

Do not include:

Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging
Pre-washed salad mix bags
Frozen food bags
Candy bar wrappers
Chip bags
Six-pack rings

But I encourage you to read the site yourself.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

OTT bulky items or other trouble

click to enlarge photo.

taken early am.

Gone Tue 29Sep 9:45am:

Mon 28Sep (actually present Sun too); 2000 house, east side.

OTT Trash & Recycling, 4Aug-20Oct2020

For subsequent days, see

OTT Trash & Recycling, 20Oct+

click to view as slide show.

taken in early am, usually between 6-8:30. All from year 2020.

Since 5Aug, we've been on a MWF pickup schedule for both trash and recycling. Exception: photos from Sat 29Aug show no Friday pickup; no Monday (31Aug) pickup either. No pickup (trash or recycling) on Labor Day, Mon 7Sep.

Top Row, L to R: 4000 recycling, 4000 west trash, 4000 west, 4000 east trash, 4000 east trash 2, 4000 east. 2nd Row: 2000 recycling, 2000 west, 2000 east trash, 2000 east trash 2, 2000 east, Villas southern Recycling.