Despite overall residential waste production declining in Ontario, the province produced 3.8 million tonnes in 2020. As a result, now is the time for your condo board to adopt waste-diverting strategies and responsible waste management practices. Here’s how.

Waste Management Bylaw Updates

Reviewing and updating your waste management bylaws/policies can help reduce your condo’s waste, and discourage the following costly behaviour:

• Leaving large items in the garbage chute room
• Not using designated locations based on waste type
• Improper disposal of food waste such as leaving it in the chute room
• Dangerous disposal of sharp items that can injure maintenance staff

Before introducing new bylaws, consider how proposed updates impact the community such as:

• How does bin placement impact residents’ rights to enjoyment of their units and common elements?
• Is space required in areas such as guest parking?
• How will bin allocation impact curb appeal or common area aesthetics?
• Are there fire and safety hazard considerations?
• Will bin placement increase the risk of unit pest infestations and odours?
• What are the associated costs and how will they be covered?
• Do your current waste management providers offer services to assist with these upgrades and changes?

Condo Monitoring and Fines

Accountability can go a long way in reducing waste management violations. Closed circuit cameras can help monitor waste management areas to identify non-compliance issues.

Monitoring also provides proof when applying resident fines according to condo corporation bylaws and regulations. Collected fines can help cover the costs of condo monitoring and waste management upgrades.

Informing residents of new surveillance in hand with applicable waste management non-compliance fines is critical.

Upgrading Chute Management

Single garbage chutes contribute to waste management issues. When residents are required to bring separated recyclable waste to designated areas, it increases the risks of all waste going down the chute.

Separate chutes, however, make it easier to sort and dispose of recycled materials and food waste. Retrofitting single chutes with a sorter system can create multiple waste streams, facilitating proper sorting and compliance with waste sorting rules.

Waste Audits

Waste audits help plan space requirements and identify common waste issues based on the following data:

• Types of waste found in each bin type
• Bin weight
• Number of waste related issues based on specific challenges such as chute jams, floors with non-compliance issues, types of discarded materials that cause the most issues such as large cardboard boxes, etc.

Audits identify opportunities to reduce issues and waste volume while informing board decisions on chute, bin, and storage area efficiency improvements.

Improved Waste Security

Improved waste area security such as locks and keycard access, helps ensure waste management compliance. Interior locations also help prevent pest access, property litter accumulation and risky non-resident bin use.

Resident Education

When people understand how their actions impact the environment and their quality of living, they tend to support your waste diversion efforts.

Some waste management tips to share with residents might include:

• Donating old clothes instead of tossing them
• Proper plastic recycling strategies and how they help the environment
• How to get rid of dead batteries and e-waste from old devices
• Bylaw reminders and applicable fines

Focusing on how resident efforts help reduce their community’s carbon footprint and contributions to local landfills helps get more people on board.

Your condo board can create a comprehensive waste management policy that remains within the scope of your budget, improves your bylaws, and introduces a responsible recycling program that supports local eco-friendly initiatives.

The condo experts at CPO Management Inc, a property management company in Toronto and the GTA, can help your board of directors develop waste-diverting strategies to build a better condo community. Reach out to us today to learn more about our condo services.

Soc: Click here to learn how your condo board can introduce eco-friendly waste management practices to benefit your community.