Jackie Thompson
The majority of Americans homeowners and tenants are subject to some form of community housing control. 37% of renters live in apartments, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council; and 73 million Americans live in HOAs. That means that the majority of Americans also rely on community agreed plans to deal with their waste management – and with that comes the potential for significant good alongside significant problems. Waste management systems face enough problems from city authorities themselves; community housing measures can either help, or hinder, progress.
The HOA situation
Housing associations can mean a range of things. Typically, however, they refer to an association set up by a property developer to help foster community spirit and, crucially, improve property prices over time. Part of that will involve trash management; ensuring that trash cans aren’t allowed to pile up, that the curb appeal of the community is well managed, and that rules are adhered to. Unfortunately, as many HOA residents will have experienced, rules can be slow to change. This is in line with proper sustainable waste management innovation. Often, big changes are pushed forward through local government; San Diego’s mandatory food recycling program is evidence of this. While state- or city-wide ordinance can help to push moves forward, the bureaucracy of HOAs can still be slow.
Improving City Waste Management
For renters, the majority of which live in apartments, the situation can be more difficult again. The EPA has highlighted a wide range of plans that cities have put into place to vastly reduce the amount of waste they produce, or to manage it in better ways. However, these plans are not always suitable for renting tenants. Again, building management can sometimes be behind on the times when it comes to new waste management protocols and plans. Logistical considerations, such as new garbage containers and sorting systems, are slow to be implemented on some city blocks. Ideally, landlords and property managers will be proactive in bringing in new measures.
Leading by Example
Inefficiencies in community waste management systems are common, but there are examples to follow. The EPA highlights how proper management systems in large community-managed properties can lead to wider efficiencies across the board – a few specific tools have been particularly effective. The waste assessment process, which seeks to highlight problems in the overall quality of a waste management program, can lead to rapid improvements for building managers and tenants. This is a nod towards what is arguably the best way of managing waste management to the best possible level – iterative upgrades. Constantly re-assessing what it is that makes the system work, and making small changes at regular intervals, prevents poor waste management and provides better living conditions.
These are principles that all forms of community managed housing, whether its HOA or housing block, should take to heart. Waste management is a huge challenge for every house in the country. It’s important that non-independent management programs understand that.