Trash Committee

Would you consider becoming an official trash enclosure volunteer? 
If you are one of many Second Mutual members who are anonymous trash enclosure volunteers, would you like to upgrade to becoming official? Trash enclosure volunteers are not required to attend meetings. You would only be encouraged to do what feels right to you, including letting us know if there is a problem related to your enclosure.
 
Some volunteers only welcome newcomers. Some pull trash out of the recycle containers, but don't talk to neighbors about what goes where. Others only take care of the green cart. And no one is asked to be a dumpster diver. Please let us know if you are willing to do even a small part in keeping our trash charges low.

Do you have a newly painted trash enclosure which is missing signage?
To request having the outside signage replaced, contact RWC Property Management, 1-925-988-7650 or serviceorder@rossmoor.com. Signage outside each trash enclosure and posters inside are removed when the enclosure is painted. If you rescue these signs, you can put them back or get new RecycleSmart posters from RPM's front desk, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. If you want help replacing any missing RecycleSmart posters -- or if you want to help us do that -- please let us know.
 
Guidelines for posting temporary signs 
Scotch Blue Painter’s Tape is RPM's carpentry foreman's preferred choice for posting temporary signs on walls and doors.
 
Please do NOT use staples, packing tape or duct tape to post temporary signs. Staples damage the enclosure door, are hard to remove, and leave little holes. Packing tape and duct tape leave adhesive residue when removed. Scotch tape works well on glass, but leaves adhesive on wood. Masking tape works well on metal, but the adhesives can be a little too aggressive on woodwork. Removing the tape sometimes can also peel away some paint. 

 

Yucky green carts  
By the end of summer, most green carts are yucky. Here are three options for dealing with this problem:

 

Option 1: Have us request to have it replaced. Once a year, a container in the trash enclosure can be replaced at no cost. This request needs to involve Director Michele Colucci, our board liaison, because there is a charge, which is over $300, to replace a container more often. 

 

Downside to Option 1: Often the replacement container is worse. Who will make sure the replacement cart is not defective? If the lid doesn't close flat, it is easier for flies to get in and lay maggot eggs. (Often the lids come bent because of how they are shipped. Leaving the cart in the sun for a few days or weighing the lid down can unwarp it.) Sometimes, the replacement cart leaks. Once we had to request three times until an enclosure got an acceptable replacement.
 
Option 2: When the green cart is empty, spray the inside with undiluted vinegar; line the bottom with 4 to 6 inches of dry leaves, pine needles, soiled paper (napkins, paper towels), pizza boxes, or newspaper; and follow the tips in Keeping your green cart clean!
 
Option 3: Get green carts power washed monthly, quarterly, or annually by Nice Cans. Second Mutual does not offer this service, but some entries collect money for one or more cleaning. If your entry choses to order this service, ask for the discounted rate for Rossmoor and make sure the invoice goes to you, not Second Mutual.

 

Downside to Options 2 & 3: The first time the clean green cart is emptied, it is yucky again -- unless the food scraps are in a paper bag, a BPI-compostable bag, or wrapped in newspaper.
 

To discourage ants and maggots, you can spray the inside of the green cart with vinegar. If you want an exterminator to deal with the ant trails to the enclosure, contact RPM, 1-925-988-7650 or workorder@rossmoor.com.