Recycling Maniac

Recycling Maniac

The Best Multi-Family Recycling Program in California

In 1991 I became the maintenance man for a 241 unit condominium complex.

One of the challenges that came with the job was a garbage mess. Luckily, in 1993 I listened to the Waste Management driver named Jesus Lopez and with his guidance, I created the best multi-family recycling program in California. We were the first to divert over 50% of our garbage through recycling. But I did it because I am a businessman. I figured if I diverted 50% of our garbage, I would save 50% on the garbage bill. That turned into $25,000 per year. Over $300,000 during the 14 years I was there. Oh, by the way, I recycled enough newspaper to save over 17,000 trees. That's a big forest. I recycled more cardboard than newspaper, but I don't have the conversion tables. (That complex has now recycled enough newspaper and cardboard to save over 50,000 trees. That's a thousand years of carbon-offset credits if I was to buy them from Al Gore at 4 trees per month.)

I won the Waste Reduction Award Program (WRAP) every year I entered. The first year was 1994. The last year was 2000 where the second place finisher was at a 25% diversion rate. There is a HUGE difference between diverting 25% and 50%.

Of course, when I was developing the program, I had a great deal of passion. We became the first complex with green waste for the residents. That only accounted for 3% of the diversion, but every bit counts when you're after it all. It took 3 months working with Waste Management to get them to go along with the idea. Then, the day they were going to implement the program, I was told by the supervisor I was working with that he couldn't do it. The City got involved and said that I didn't get their approval. I had talked to the City. But when your so far ahead, followers don't always know what the road looks like.

I'd handle it differently today. But almost 14 years ago, I told the supervisor, "When you put your zipper back in the front of your pants, I'll look forward to working with you again. Until then, let you people know that at the City Council meeting tomorrow night there will be 40 or 50 people from this complex asking one question, 'How do you spell the name of the elected City official that is denying me the right to implement State Law AB939 (California's recycling law). I want to make sure we get the spelling right because the press will be in the back of the room.'"

The next morning there was a message on my answering machine. I didn't have to go the meeting. The green waste containers would be delivered by 2:00. And, at 2:00 that supervisor showed up in a flatbed truck, with no clutch (only big truck he could find in the yard), and delivered the containers that he personally assembled that morning. I loved working with Waste Management. Of course, the press did do a story. And, in the story I am called, "the recycling maniac" by the head of Waste Management in Sonoma County. From her point of view, I'm sure she was right.

I also wrote a "Recycling for Elementary School Children" program. That was 13 years and a couple of computers ago. I found a hard copy and will have it input into this site. The program was for elementary school children because families put out more garbage.