Page 7 - NY Cooperator May 2019

COOPERATOR.COM THE COOPERATOR — MAY 2019 7 derstand the issue. And in my second meeting, I explained the issue on a board level: as good recyclers, we’d basically be- come adept at sorting recyclables from black garbage bags into clear recyclable bags. That’s essentially what the project entails in a high-rise: separating those materials. And what was increasingly left in those black bags was food, and those bags will rip and tear and leak. This is what attracts the rats. Anytime you pass a high-rise building and you see where the black bags are piled on the sidewalk, look around the perimeter a little and you’ll see rat traps. Rats nest close to tree pits because they know that every other day there will be a new source of food put out. That’s what immediately grabbed the board’s attention, so we ran with the or- ganics program and never looked back. You save money when food waste doesn’t go down a garbage chute. Because when you drop a bag of kitchen waste down a 14-story chute, it’s ricocheting off walls and breaking before it gets to the base- ment. That’s why you’re paying to have a chute cleaned twice per year in big build- ings. Then you have porters that are try- ing to do the right thing and ensure that their building avoids fines. But there are all sorts of hidden labor costs accrued by their going floor-to-floor picking up re- cyclables and trying to gather misplaced cans and bottles and put them where they belong. This labor/time expenditure has not been documented by the city, to my knowledge, but it’s substantial. I see it in my own building. There are real money and labor issues here, as well as practical strategies which buildings are increas- ingly adopting to improve their recycling programs. On whom does it usually fall to carry out and maintain an organics, compost- ing, heightened recycling initiative, etc., once it’s agreed upon that a building should pursue one? Oftentimes it falls to the super, under the auspices of management. In some buildings, the secret sauce is a board member or interested resident, someone who might be on an environmental com- mittee and takes a personal interest in this and helps out. What we call an in- house recycling champion. They exist in many buildings; you just have to scratch around. And they can act as an adjunct to management, potentially organize an Earth Day event, pass out brochures, meet with seniors or disabled residents to help with their recycling. RECYCLING BETTER continued from page 6 Do you have any quick tips that a board could implement with minimal effort and better their recycling programs? I worked as a green marketing con- sultant for an Energy Star building for 10 trash; they see it as something for the su- years, where it was clear that energy ef- ficiency in a corporation was viewed as to fry. But sending a signal to residents a proxy for good management. Similarly, that they do care via signage in the recy- when a residential building cares about its cling room, through making announce- recycling room and doesn’t let it get over- run with messy recyclables and trash, that people to raise their hands if they’re con- sends a signal to the residents that the fused or need additional help such that building is well run. Many boards don’t other residents can see that they’re taken care all that much about recycling and care of… it all contributes to building a per to handle, while they have bigger fish the board can truly amplify that culture. ments at the annual meeting, by asking culture of recycling in a building. Only n Mike Odenthal is a staff writer at The Co- operator. Energy just got easier NYC customers now have access to our expanded natural gas and electricity pricing programs. Let us help make managing your buildings’ energy easier than ever! Lock in fuel oil, natural gas, and power rates with Sprague, and you could save time and money Learn more about our natural gas and electricity programs - Call today! 1.914.381.6600 | www.spragueenergy.com customercareny@spragueenergy.com Our Energy Makes the Difference ® Manage your energy better with: • Locked-in rates for budget certainty & peace of mind • One point of contact for heating oil, natural gas, & electricity supply • Unmatched electricity pricing through our unique range of supplier relationships • The same quality account management & customer service you’ve come to trust