The Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program
The Apartment Move-Out rush is coming and the City of Davis Recycling Program can help you save money!
In an effort to divert waste from the landfill and to promote recycling, the City of Davis Recycling Program is sponsoring the 11th Annual Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program August 22 – September 1, 2008.
What is the Apartment Move-Out Program?
Participate in the 2007 Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program. Call the City Recycling Program for more information 757-5686.
The Apartment Move-Out Program is a partnership between the City of Davis (Pubic Works Department) Recycling Program and property managers at apartment properties in Davis. It is an effort to reduce the amount of good, usable material that typically ends up in the landfill during the yearly August move-out. The State of California requires all cities to attain a recycling rate of 50%. In order to achieve that goal, we need to recycle as much material as possible, and reduce the amount of material going to the landfill.
How does the program work?
The Recycling Program staff will invite apartment managers to participate. Program staff will then supply the participating managers with fliers for residents, and posters advertising the program. The day before the program begins, the Recycling Program staff will set out cones and signs and use caution tape to mark off an area next to the roll-off bin or dumpster. This area will become the donation station. During the Move-Out Program, residents can bring reusable items to the donation station (clothes, furniture, household goods, home décor etc.). Local non-profits, residents moving in, current residents, and apartment staff are free to take whatever they want from the donation station. The donation station becomes a swapping area.
Why should I participate?
Residents and apartment staff that have participated in the past felt the pride and satisfaction of “doing the right thing” and wasting less. Local charities and non-profits benefit from the items they receive from the Move-Out Program (In 2006, 7 different local non-profits were involved with the program). The program generally reduces the amount of mess and litter that occurs during the yearly move-out, and good usable items and recyclables are kept out of the landfill. Residents also benefit from taking their pick of the free items that are left in the donation station. For some, it is a free way to furnish their new home!
Will the Move-Out Program save me money?
We hope so! Our main goal with this program is to keep good, usable material out of the landfill. If all of the bed frames, computer desks, sofas, lamps, clothes etc. are not thrown away, but donated and reused—yes, you should see a reduction in your disposal fees because your dumpsters will not fill up as fast, necessitating fewer pickups and saving on disposal cost. In 2006, despite the large number of move-outs (many properties were experiencing a 50% turnover rate) and apartment renovation projects contributing to the amount of waste generated, 73% of participating properties were able to reduce or maintain the same amount of waste generated the year before. It just makes sense—if things are being donated and reused, then there is not as much to throw in the trash. Some complexes in 2006 saw immediate savings as they reduced their need for extra pickups and spent less staff time on cleanup.
Is there any fee to participate?
No, there is no fee. We only ask for your help and cooperation with our project. There are over 10,000 apartment units in Davis, and the City does not have the resources to reach out to every resident each year. We need the help of the property managers in order for this program to work. We can create fliers and letters for apartment residents, but we need the property managers help to copy and distribute them among the residents. We need the support of the maintenance staff to be sure those good items left outside the dumpsters are not thrown in the trash, but are moved into the donation station. Equally important, we need property managers to encourage their residents to participate in the program by bringing good items to the donation station instead of throwing them away.
How do the donated items get to the charities and non-profits?
We will give the charities and non-profits a list of all the participating properties. Some will stop by at the participating properties and take all the items they want. Clothes and smaller items are collected by the City Recycling Staff and dropped off at various local non-profits. In 2006, the Food Bank of Yolo County sent food barrels to participating properties to collect non-perishable food.
What if most of my residents move-out the week before the Move-Out Program begins?
Just let us know if this is the case. We can set up a donation station up to four days early if you have residents moving out before the Move-Out Program officially starts (August 30).
What if most of my residents move-out over a month before the Move-Out Program starts?
If your residents are moving out this early, it might be helpful for you to set up a mini move-out program early. You can hand out information about reusing and recycling to your residents and encourage them to reduce their waste. Let us know if this is the case, and we can assist you. Call the City Recycling program 757-5686.
What about scavengers?
We encourage residents and staff to take what they want from the donation station. The local non-profits are usually overwhelmed with donations this time of year, and as such they can be very selective about what items they accept and how much they will take. Therefore, in order for this program to run successfully, we need everyone’s help in reusing these products! We usually run a press release in the Davis Enterprise about the Move-Out Program, but we will NOT mention the names of participating apartment properties until after the Move-Out Program is over. Although we want to encourage people to take whatever items they want or need, we do not want to invite the public to come onto your property. Most local residents already know about the “move-out madness” in Davis, and have seen all the furniture that is left behind every year. As a result, many people have made a habit of driving around the city from property to property gathering up furniture and other items. We cannot prevent them from scavenging through the items at the donation station, but they will most likely come onto your property whether we set up a donation station or not. However, it is easier on your maintenance staff AND on your disposal fees if you do participate. Scavengers going through dumpsters to find usable items can create a big mess and undo all the careful work that your maintenance staff did trying to stack things carefully into the dumpsters to save space. If useable items are left outside the dumpsters, scavengers can take those items and are more likely to stay out of the dumpsters.
Who can I contact for more information?
For more information, or if you would like to participate in the 2007 Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program, contact the City of Davis Recycling Program at 757-5686.