Woodlake Association is a 990 unit homeowners’ association consisting of 923 condominiums and 66 townhouses on 30 acres in San Mateo. They have initiated many efforts to promote and encourage their residents and staff to recycle and reduce waste, including providing a RethinkWaste Recycle Buddy Bag to each resident as part of their move-in kit, onsite staff pulling out any recyclables out of the garbage, grass cycling and composting all of their green waste. The recycling program has been in place for close to 20 years - the amount of recycling collected has grown every year of the program. Last year they added six additional 2 yard recycling bins for a total of 12-2 yard bins and 2-3 yard bins collected two times a week (a total of 30 yards of recycling). They were able to reduce their 20 yard compactor to once a week from twice a week service. In addition, they have 2-3 yard bins for compost collection serviced twice a week.
In addition, with the help of a resident, staff pulled out the recycling materials with a California Redemption Value. They turned the bottles and cans in for the refund value, purchased toys throughout the year that were then donated to the Toys for Tots program for disadvantaged children at holiday time.
