Sustainability: In the Home and Beyond

The conversation surrounding sustainability often centers around cutting down on harmful emissions and electricity consumption in the home. While addressing these elements is vital in order to reduce the carbon footprint left by buildings across all sectors, the issue of waste management is equally important as it can significantly impact the effects that entire communities have on their environment. Today, there exist a multitude of modern strategies to dispose of waste effectively and efficiently. Alfred has partnered with both local and national partners in order to bring these strategies to more properties around the nation, promoting an environmentally conscious and socially responsible approach to waste management.

A Growing Crisis

The global importance of waste management has been exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19. According to a recent letter in Science, packaged take-out meals and personal protective equipment are contributing to an unprecedented surge in waste. Households across the United States are also generating 25% to 30% more than their usual four pounds of waste per person.

The effects of excessive waste, both biodegradable and otherwise, on the environment are generally well-known. Non-biodegradable waste will never be broken down by microorganisms and therefore pose a higher risk of causing pollution, harming animals and blocking drains if not properly disposed of. Biodegradable waste does eventually break down, but the breakdown process can result in the release of harmful emissions such as methane. They also run the risk of causing communicable diseases in animals, plants, and humans, not to mention the unpleasant odors, clutter, unwanted wildlife, and an unappealing aesthetic, all of which can have damaging mental and physical impacts if left unattended.

Modern Solutions to An Existing Problem

All of these factors point to the necessity of building sustainable communities. An apartment community embracing this mindset is The Waypointe Apartments, located in Connecticut’s premier waterfront destination, Norwalk. The Waypointe has integrated the Experience by Alfred solution and implemented a waste reduction program, designed to reassess and streamline its waste collection services.

As part of the process, Alfred identified new vendors for composting and recycling services for textiles, electronics and household appliances and implemented new infrastructures across all four of its properties. These included paired trash and recycling bins, encouraging residents to recycle and providing them with centralized locations to do so.

The partnership between the Waypointe and Alfred was instrumental in executing this program. Through AlfredOS technology and a dedicated onsite team, the Waypointe was able to map its base building waste infrastructure and provide guidelines for where equipment belongs. The Alfred team also began hosting several marketing and informational campaigns for residents to keep them updated on progress and educate them on how to properly dispose of waste. In preparation for this, both Alfred’s and the Greystar team underwent virtual and in-person training through Common Ground Compost and Foodprint Group, both of which will be used going forward to educate both staff and residents on the Waypointe’s zero waste goals and waste reduction programs.

Looking to the Future

Alfred’s work with Waypointe is just one example of building sustainable communities. Through our extensive network of partners, known as The Alfred Collective, we uplift local businesses by featuring their products and services on the AlfredOS marketplace as well as at local community events.

By continuing to grow The Alfred Collective and our Resident Experience initiatives, we’re able to explore innovative solutions to residential management while doing our part to fight the climate crisis as the world strives to become greener and more sustainable. To learn more about Alfred, click here.