CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE Multi-Family Recycling Guide

History of Recycling Its been 25 years since we first learned about reducing, reusing, and recycling. Its been 20 years since the 30% recycling goal was established in Florida. Yet, after all that, two-thirds of the waste statewide is still being landfilled.

Current Trends in Broward 46% of our waste is still landfilled Another 34% is sent to the waste-to- energy plant About 20% is recycled

Why Recycle If well-planned and well-executed recycling may save money by reducing or offsetting waste disposal costs Recycling is locally mandated for multi-family establishments New State Recycling Goal seeks 75% recycling by 2020 Recycling is an actionable response to global issue of sustainability Single-stream recycling makes it easier than ever

What is Single-Stream? A new system that allows you to mix all your recyclable paper, plastics, glass, aluminum and steel cans together. All recyclables go into one cart with wheels!

Designing a Successful Program Key Players: Property Manager, Condo Association Maintenance Staff Residents Local Haulers Local Recycling Centers

Assess Your Situation What are your building logistics? What are your recycling options? What is being recycled now and how good of a job are you doing? What does your building need to do to make its recycling program most effective? Consider the design and layout of your building and facilities and your residents traffic patterns. Also, as you form your recycling team, discuss the following:

Convenience If possible, make garbage and recycling services equally easy to use. Consider retrofitting chutes. Place recycling carts in common areas – laundry rooms, mail area, parking garages, etc.

Capacity Recycling and garbage containers must have enough capacity to hold the materials that accumulate between collections. A suitable space for collection and storage of recyclables materials must be identified. One 96-gallon cart for each 10 to 15 households encourages participation in the program. If your complex generates a lot of cardboard, contact your service provider about getting a container specifically for cardboard collection.

Collection Chutes Floor-by-floor (local fire codes must be observed; requires staff support) Common areas Mail rooms – paper only Pools Parking garages – capture material from vehicles Centralized location

Materials: Heres What You Can Recycle Mixed paper, newspaper, & cardboard Glass bottles and jars Aluminum, steel & tin cans Plastics 1, 2 & 5 (narrow neck only) – water and soda, detergent bottles Milk cartons and juice cartons

Education and Signage Educate at time of move-in and semi-annually thereafter Remember what, why, how, where and when Make sure garbage and recycling containers are clearly labeled. Place posters and signage near recycling containers and in common areas. Inform residents of other opportunities to recycle – electronics, clothing furniture, etc. Green Your Routine. Recycle here!

Deal with Contamination Contamination occurs when recyclables are not properly cleaned or sorted, and when non-recyclable garbage gets mixed in. If contamination occurs, haulers can reject loads. Tell your residents about contaminants, why they are a problem and what needs to be done to prevent contamination. Take immediate action to correct problems.

Reward Recycling Efforts To encourage better participation: Track the program results and communicate increases in recycling/decreases in garbage. Reward recycling residents and green volunteers with recycled products such as stationery, ceramic mugs, in-unit recycling containers, etc. Buy recycled products for use around the complex.

Where It Goes Most recycling service providers take the materials to Recycle America, a local recycling processing facility. The employment of optical scanners, screens and magnets make processing of single-stream more efficient than before.

For More Information Contact Loretta Cronk, Recycling Program Coordinator