Nonprofit Apartment Complex Saves By Recycling

Pilgrim Park Apartments are being recognized by the City of San Rafael as a Waste-Wise Business.

The objectives at Pilgrim Park Apartments are “to provide quality affordable housing and to promote community among the residents and with the neighbors on Pilgrim Hill.” Improving their waste management turned out to be a way to advance both goals. The complex was already recycling, but there weren’t enough recycling carts, and a lot of recyclable material was going into the landfill dumpsters.

This year, Pilgrim Park staff worked with Marin Sanitary Service to reduce their weekly landfill waste from 24 to 17 cubic yards, which meant they also reduced the number and size of their dumpsters. Each dumpster is now paired with a paper and a recycling cart and a cardboard recycling bin has also been added. These changes have led to annual cost-savings of over $9000, which will be put back into improvements to the nonprofit housing complex. The complex has long had a Salvation Army donation box, which is used by the wider community beyond Pilgrim Park. Management arranges for pick-up of larger items when necessary. This prevents usable items from being landfilled, while supporting another nonprofit.

The residents’ participation has been key to the program’s success. MSS staff held informational meetings for the residents and provided them with materials in both English and Spanish. Residents are frequently encouraged and acknowledged for their efforts. The residents have found that recycling is easy to do and are proud of their accomplishments and their clean neighborhood!