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Clackamas County Newsletter for Multifamily Property Managers
Fall/Winter 2021
Your quarterly guide to successful recycling & waste reduction
from Clackamas County's Sustainability & Solid Waste Program
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In this edition:
- It's that time of year!
- Holiday Eco Tips
- Recycle Or Not?
- Don't Let Good Food Go Bad
- Bulky Waste Items
- Inclement Weather
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It's that time of year!
Believe it or not, it's the holiday season. Halloween has come and gone and dia de los muertos has passed. The coming months tend to bring an increase in consumption, which in turn, often results in increased waste.
- Whether it's in-with-the-new,-out-with-the-old, decorations, or packaging, we generate more waste this time of year (23% more, according to a 2021 study by the Center for Biological Diversity). This reality is even more visible in apartment and condo communities where neighbors share garbage and recycling bins. But it doesn't have to! Review and share the ideas (in this edition) to be more sustainable this holiday season - and save money in the process!
Do you manage communities outside of Clackamas County? See our list of regional multifamily contacts throughout the tri-county area who are ready to help with your waste prevention, reuse, and recycling efforts.
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Holiday Eco Tips
Whether your household celebrates Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, none of these, all of these, or any other holiday, we can do so with our own traditions while also protecting our planet, our communities, and our wallets.
- Focus on people and planet - Our planet and loved ones give us life. By focusing less on "things," we can turn our attention to what matters most. Whether near or far, when we center people and the planet, being "green" (sustainable) just happens.
- Rethink gift giving - Many traditions include the exchange of gifts. Green gift giving can take many different paths: gift experiences and create memories, make the gift wrap part of the gift or reuse packaging, gift gently-used items or repair their favorite item, or make something special out of used materials. The first step is simply thinking about gifts differently (and maybe focusing on people and the planet).
- Service level adjustments - Property managers and owners can call their garbage & recycling company and request additional bins and/or additional pickups around the holiday season. It comes with a cost, but can prevent overflow issues and excessive cleanup.
- Recycling right - We can be green(er), but waste is still a reality. It's important that we recycle right and that means throwing items in the garbage. To confirm you are recycling right, review our local recycle guide, watch a brief (2:35) recycling basics video, play the RecycleOrNot game, and/or watch the holiday video below.
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Recycle or Not?
If the holiday recycling reminders didn't answer your recycling question, send a pic!
Find @recycleornot (@reciclarono en español) on Instagram to submit your own recycling questions and to see answers to others' pics/questions.
Remember, if you don't know if an item is recyclable in your recycle bin, it's always best to find out or throw it in the garbage.
To freshen up on your recycling knowledge:
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Don't Let Good Food Go Bad
Make the money you have go further by making your food last longer.
With the holiday season upon us, we see an increased focus on food. With that, comes an increased opportunity for good food to go bad. Use these tips and tricks to stretch every dollar by making food last longer.
Shop Smart - Whether at your local food pantry or supermarket, on an online delivery app, or at a local farmers market, shop with a plan. Plan your meals ahead of time and check the fridge and cupboards as you make your list. And be creative to use up your half-used vegetables (try a throw-it-all-in skillet meal!).
Smart Storage - Storing your foods properly will help them stay fresher longer. Not all produce should be stored in the fridge. Place foods that need to be eaten first in an easily-accessible space in the fridge. Use the freezer to prolong the life of prepared foods and to better utilize fruits past their prime (e.g. freeze fruits for use in smoothies at a later date)! Extra loaf of bread? Freeze that for use later, too!
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Bulky Waste Items
Large, unwanted items, like mattresses and furniture, present a problem for residents, property managers/owners, HOAs, and the garbage & recycling company, alike. They can block access to bins, create safety hazards, and be unsightly.
Whether items were left in the garbage and recycling area by a resident (or outsider), abandoned in an apartment when it was vacated, or have accumulated in a maintenance shed or garage for future disposal, your garbage company can help. Simply call your garbage company, and they can help you figure out the best options for your specific situation. One or two items?...they can swing by and pick them up. Been accumulating for a while?...they can drop off a large dumpster and come back and take it all at once.
While there is an additional fee (depending on quantity and size/weight of items) for this service, it provides the convenience of removing items from your community quickly and safely.
Items still in good, working condition? Consider donation options, offer to current residents, or encourage residents to post such goods on community apps like Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing Groups, Craigslist, Nextdoor, etc.
Need help coordinating a pickup with your garbage company? Interested in promoting a reuse option in your community? We're here to help!
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Inclement Weather
After experiencing February's ice storm, followed by 115°F in June, it's never too soon for a reminder about weather impacts on garbage and recycling collection.
For the safety of our communities, garbage/recycling companies may postpone collections when weather conditions make driving hazardous. Postponed collections are not considered missed collections, because the service is rendered in due course. Credits are not available for postponed collections due to inclement weather.
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Questions? Have a suggestion?
Download our Recycle Guide
Clackamas County Sustainability & Solid Waste
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