Property managers, it's that time again—tenants are moving out, and you're left with an abundance of items tenants left behind. Coffee machines, end tables, clothes, and kitchen trashcans can quickly pile up, becoming overwhelming to manage.
However, if you've prepared a Lease Transition Plan, you're equipped to handle turnovers smoothly while reducing waste and saving on garbage hauling costs. Who knew move-outs could be this easy?
Gainesville requires Lease Transition Plans to be submitted by Multi-family Properties as part of the City’s overall Zero Waste goals to minimize landfill waste by promoting the reuse and recycling of materials. Currently, each multi-family property with at least 200 units must submit a Lease Transition Plan annually to the City’s Solid Waste Division, and as of January 1, 2025, this ordinance will also apply to all multi-family properties with at least 50 units.
Each Lease Transition plan should detail how they intend to divert usable household goods, furnishings, electronics, and recyclable cardboard during high-volume move-in and move-out periods and include:
- Notices sent to tenants with information on how and where items can be donated for reuse.
- If established, tenants should be informed about any on-site donation locations.
Property managers seeking assistance with setting up their Lease Transition Plan are encouraged to contact the City of Gainesville’s Solid Waste Division or visit gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste.
The Zero Waste Caterer Movement
Caterers seeking to operate sustainably and minimize waste can reduce their carbon footprint and expenses by implementing zero waste methods. Transitioning to a zero-waste catering operation is not only beneficial for the environment, but it can also enhance a business's reputation and appeal to new clientele.
Here are a few strategies caterers can take to reduce their waste:
In The Kitchen:
- Design menus based on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that are less likely to spoil quickly.
- Set up a food waste collection system in prep areas for kitchen scraps, such as vegetable trimmings, fruit peelings, and coffee grounds.
- Train employees on sustainable practices, including proper waste sorting, composting procedures, and efficient food preparation techniques.
- Consider offering customizable portions to minimize uneaten food.
Ordering:
- Regularly monitor inventory levels to avoid over-ordering and establish relationships with suppliers who can deliver smaller quantities more frequently, ensuring fresher ingredients and less spoilage.
- Switch to reusable or compostable cups, plates, napkins, and utensils.
Donating:
- Partner with local food banks or charities to donate surplus food that is safe to eat.
- Find out what apps, such as FoodRecovery.org or TooGoodToGo, are available to assist with making donations easier.
As the demand for sustainable practices continues to grow, caterers prioritizing zero waste methods will stand out as leaders in the movement toward a more sustainable future. Learn more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
How to Save Money by Reducing Paint Waste
One of the most effective ways to save money on home painting projects is by minimizing paint waste. Reducing paint waste saves you money and benefits the environment by decreasing the amount of hazardous materials needing disposal. Here are several strategies to help you reduce paint waste and stretch your budget further.
Plan Ahead -
- Measure the Area: Knowing the exact dimensions of your project, and using an online paint calculator helps you purchase the right amount of paint, preventing overbuying.
- Choose the Right Paint: Research and select the appropriate paint for your specific needs to avoid unnecessary waste. If in doubt, get small samples made that you can take home and test out on your walls before purchasing larger quantities.
- Brushes and Rollers: Higher quality brushes and rollers will nead to smoother applications and using less paint. Save even more by checking out local reuse outlets, such as Renovator Reuse and The Repurpose Project for gently-used paint supplies.
- Hard to Beat Free: The Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center offers free recycled paint.
On the Job-
- Limit the Pour: By only pouring out what paint you’ll need immediately, you can prevent paint from drying out or becoming contaminated, which can lead to waste.
- Choose the Right Paint: Research and select the appropriate paint for your specific needs to avoid unnecessary waste. If in doubt, get small samples made that you can take home and test out on your walls before purchasing larger quantities.
- Mix Paint Properly: Stirring up your paint prevents uneven coverage and reduces the likelihood of needing extra coats.
- Combine Similar Colors: Combining similar colors of leftover paint for use as a base coat can reduce the need to buy new paint.
Wrapping Up -
Reducing paint waste is a practical and effective way to save money on your painting projects and contribute to a sustainable environment. Learn more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
New Florida Law Bans Intentional Release of Balloons Outdoors
As of July 1, 2024, the intentional release of balloons outdoors is banned throughout Florida. This new state law parallels the City of Gainesville’s existing ordinances prohibiting anyone from intentionally releasing plastic confetti, glitter, or balloons outdoors.
Signed into law on June 24, 2024, the new statute prohibits individuals from intentionally releasing a balloon inflated with a gas lighter than air, categorizing such actions as littering and imposing significant fines on violators. This state law addresses a pressing concern about litter in our environment. Plastic litter poses a grave risk to fish, turtles, and other animals, as these creatures can mistake balloons for food, leading to blockages in their airways or intestines.
There are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives to releasing balloons, glitter, or confetti that don’t result in litter, such as:
- Bubbles
- Kites
- Wind Socks
- Cloth Flags & Bunting
- Pinwheels
- Seed Balls
- Planting a Tree
These alternatives offer a way to celebrate and mark special occasions without endangering our wildlife or natural habitats. Learn more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
FoodRecovery.org Set to Reduce Food Waste In Gainesville
Over 2 million people in Florida lack access to healthy food and are considered food insecure, which is astonishing when more than a third of our food supply ends up in landfills. Getting donated wholesome food to those in need is a solvable problem, and FoodRecovery.org is here to help.
FoodRecovery.org is at the forefront of addressing this critical issue. As a pioneering non-profit organization, this online platform bridges the gap between excess food and those in need by connecting food donors with local food banks and charities. Their innovative approach ensures that surplus food, which would otherwise be discarded, reaches people facing food insecurity.
Whether you’re a restaurant, grocery store, farm, or caterer, partnering with FoodRecovery.org is simple. They provide resources and support to help streamline the donation process, ensuring that food is safely and efficiently redirected to those in need. You can sign up on their website and start making a difference immediately.
Visit FoodRecovery.org to learn more about how you can join the movement and be part of the solution. Together, we can turn surplus into sustenance and build a more sustainable future for all.
Learn more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
What Happens to Your Recyclables?
There's a lot of misleading and confusing information about the future of recycling. For instance, you may have heard news stories stating that “only around 9% of all the plastic waste generated globally is recycled.” While this statistic is accurate, it doesn't mean that the materials you place in your curbside recycling bins are not getting recycled. Instead, it highlights the vast number of plastic products that exist and that only a small percentage of them are either accepted by or collected through community recycling programs.
Locally, all materials from your orange & blue recycling bins are taken to Alachua County’s Material Recovery Facility, located off Waldo Road. Here, non-recyclable items, known as contaminants, are sorted out. Recyclables are then separated by hand and machines into primary groups like glass, plastic, metal, and paper. These separated materials are baled and loaded onto trucks for shipment to secondary processors and manufacturers, where they are used to create new products. It is important to note that Alachua County does not ship any recovered materials overseas or to incinerators.
While the end markets are subject to change, below is a list of the common end uses for your recyclables after they are reprocessed:
- Cardboard: Used as backing for new cardboard boxes.
- Mixed Paper: Newspaper, pasteboard boxes, and other residential papers are reprocessed for protective packaging uses.
- Aluminum Bottles & Cans: Are smelted into sheets for the packaging industry to make new beverage containers.
- Steel Cans: Made into new food cans and rebar for construction projects.
- Plastics (PET): Get converted into plastic flakes used to make new products, such as carpeting and clothing.
- Plastics (HDPE): Your natural (milk jugs) and colored plastic containers (shampoo bottles) are made into plastic flakes and pellets to manufacture pipes and plastic lumber.
- Glass: Used to make glass containers, fiberglass, highway bead, glass abrasives, and specialty glass for decorations.
Learn more about recycling and the waste management hierarchy at gainesvillefl.gov/WhatCanBeRecycled, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
Cartons Dropped from Recycling Program
As the saying goes, there's no use crying over spilled milk. However, in this case, it's the carton that has met its end, not the milk. Food and beverage cartons are no longer accepted in the curbside recycling programs of Gainesville and Alachua County. Cartons are also no longer accepted for recycling drop-off at any of the Alachua County Rural Collection Centers.
Attempts to find domestic markets capable of processing this material have been unsuccessful. Additionally, the volume of cartons collected locally has been insufficient to fill shipments before the containers become moldy, rendering them unsuitable for recycling.
The following are no longer accepted for recycling:
- Gable-top containers, such as milk, juice & egg substitute cartons
- Tetra Pak (shelf-stable) containers, such as protein drinks, broth and boxed wine
- Juice boxes
For information on what materials are accepted for recycling, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WhatCanBeRecycled, and follow @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
The Magic of the Zero Waste Wizard
Don’t know what to do with all your extra empty potion jars, broken staffs, and dusty witches’ hats lying around? Simply, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard and ask your friendly Zero Waste Wizard to concoct a spell of responsible waste disposal!
The Zero Waste Wizard is the most reliable, up-to-date means for getting locally focused information on recycling, disposal, and reuse. City staff is constantly hitting the books at the School of Wizardry to keep the Zero Waste Wizard current, using information supplied mainly by app users like you.
In addition to answering crucial questions like “Is this recyclable?” a peek into the crystal ball will tell you everything from where to repair items, donate household goods, or find local scrap metal professionals.
While we think the Waste Wizard possesses all the answers, this Sorcerer of Sorting is also humble, so if you ask a question that doesn’t yet have an answer, you can suggest the addition of new items to the database of zero waste knowledge.
When you want to vanquish the dreaded foes of waste, clutter, and junk, the Zero Waste Wizard will cast a spell of all-knowing and all-seeing, giving you the answers you seek. In a world of darkness and uncertainty – “What do I do with all this old stuff?!” – let gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard light the way forward!