Maple Street Apartments and Parking, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Maple Street Apartments:

A 28-unit apartment complex conveniently located two blocks from the University of Arkansas, two blocks from beautiful Wilson Park, and two blocks from lively Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

14 one bedroom apts

14 two-bedroom apts

For more information call the manager at (479) 444-7445.

Information for Tenants

Don't throw away
FOOD, SOILED PAPER, or CAT LITTER!

"LEAVE NO WASTE, LEAVE A LEGACY " - ORGANICS COLLECTION PROGRAM
Leave this place in a better condition than when we arrived.

Put your food scraps and other organics out for curbside collection.

Get with the program!

Organics collection at The Apartments is EASY! Here's how it works.

Step 1. Line your new kitchen collector with a plastic shopping bag
Step 2. Put the following items in kitchen collector as appropriate
Fruits, vegetable scraps Meat, shellfish, fish products Pasta, bread, cereal Dairy products, egg shells Candies, cookies, cake Baking ingredients, herbs, spices Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags Cat litter (place in separate bag)	Soiled paper: Paper towels, tissues, napkins Paper plates, paper coffee cups Fast food paper packaging Muffin paper Flour, sugar bags Wet paper Household plants, including soil
Step 3. When full remove bag and place in "ORGANICS" labeled curbside cart

Quick Reference Card

Frequently asked questions

What you need to know
What you need to do
An important note about plastic in the organic collection
- If plastic bags can be used to line either bin, why can't I place such plastic items as yogurt containers or plastic wrap in the bins?
Here's the Leave No Waste Organics Collection Program schedule
How the program works
The big picture: Diverting waste from landfill
- Is the LNW Organics Collection Program really helping Fayetteville reduce waste being sent to the landfill?
- Why was the program started?
More questions?
- What if I have a problem after the program starts? Who can I call?

Collection containers

Frequently asked questions

What you need to know

Q:	What is the LNW Organics Collection Program?
A:	The LNW Organics Collection Program allows participants (Maple Street Apartments residents) to put organics (fruit and vegetables scraps, paper towels, coffee grinds, etc.) out for separate collection along with garbage and recycling.

Q:	What are organics?
A:	Organics are materials that break down naturally and can be turned into compost. This saves them from going to landfill - landfill disposal is not optimal in terms of the potential for detrimental environmental affects.

What goes in the indoor organics collection container and the curbside container cart?

Fruits, vegetable scraps
Meat, shellfish, fish products
Pasta, bread, cereal
Dairy products, egg shells
Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags
Soiled paper towels, tissues, napkins
Soiled paper food packaging: fast food paper packaging, muffin paper, flour and sugar bags
Soiled paper plates
Candies, cookies, cake
Baking ingredients, herbs, spices
Household plants, including soil
Animal waste, bedding (e.g. from bird/hamster cages), litter
Pet food

A plastic bag can be used to line the indoor container but is not required.

Are there specific items that I CAN'T put in?

Plastic wrap, baggies, sandwich bags
Plastic items such as food containers (e.g. yogurt or margarine tubs), cutlery
Plastic milk bags
Paperboard juice containers with plastic spouts
Styrofoam, meat tray liners
Foil
Wax paper
Artificial flowers and plants
Leather, textiles, clothing
Rugs, carpets
Cigarette butts, tobacco
Corks (from wine bottles, etc.)
Gum
Ear cleaners, cotton balls, make-up removal pads
Baby wipes
Disposable mop sheets
Dryer lint, dryer sheet
Vacuum cleaner bags and contents
Feathers
Hair, pet fur
Dead animals
Fireplace or BBQ ashes
Wood products, wood chips
Candles

Most of these items do not biodegrade and therefore cannot be turned into compost.

What are apartment residents supplied with?

For every household, their is:

A smaller container (beige) for the kitchen that can be kept on the counter.
Access to a larger container (green and on wheels) for the curb. The one for the curb has wheels and handles so that it's easy to move around. It is located in the Apartment's designated waste collection area.
Instructions about what goes into the two containers.

Q:	When may I place the collected organics in the outdoor organics collection cart?
A:	You may place your organics in the green container cart anytime before Tuesday late afternoon and after Wednesday afternoon. The green collection cart will be emptied once a week.

What you need to do

What do I have to do?

Here's a summary of the process:

Place your indoor container in a convenient location - it can be attached inside a cupboard or underneath your sink.
Place all items accepted in the LNW Organics Collection Program, including the optional plastic bag used to line the indoor container, and any other acceptable materials into the green curbside cart container.
Latch the cart container after placing your organics in it.
If there is a bag lining the outdoor curbside cart container, make sure it is completely tucked into the cart when you close the lid; otherwise the edges may be used by animals to pull the cart over.

Q:	If the indoor container breaks or cracks, will it be replaced?
A:	If there is a problem with your indoor container, it will be replaced. Call (479)-444-7445 for information on what to do about replacing it. You will need your broken bin in order to get a replacement.

Q:	The program sounds disgusting. I don't want to touch all of that yucky stuff. Won't the bins smell awful? What can I do?
A:	You can use plastic bags to line either one of your containers. Instead of throwing your food waste, etc. in the garbage, you're throwing it in your kitchen container. You are already handling this material.

Do I have to use a bag to line the indoor organics collection container?

You can line your indoor kitchen container (no need to buy special bags…your used grocery bags will do just fine). By lining your kitchen container, you don't have to handle the organics twice. Just remove the full plastic bag from your indoor container and toss it into the outdoor green container cart-twisted or loosely tied, if possible, as it helps separate the plastic from the organics at the processing facility. Also, please note that your container is washable. (Do not place your kitchen container in the dishwasher.)

Q:	Can I put the plastic bag with which I pick up my cat excrement inside the bin?
A:	Yes, you can. We make an exception in this case. The bags will be removed in the processing facility.

Q:	Can I put my house plants, dead flowers, and potting soil in the organics containers?
A:	Yes, you can.

Q:	I compost already and don't want to participate. Is this okay?
A:	Of course. We encourage you to continue composting. At the same time, you are also encouraged to participate in the LNW Organics Collection Program because there are some additional items that you can't currently compost that are accepted in the LNW Organics Program - animal waste, meat, fish, dairy products, etc.

Q:	What if I don't want to participate?
A:	We encourage everyone to participate in the LNW Organics Collection Program. The less we depend on landfilling, the better for the environment.

An important note about plastic in the organic collection

If plastic bags can be used to line either bin, why can't I place such plastic items as yogurt containers or plastic wrap in the bins?

While it's okay to line your container with plastic bags, it is not okay to include your plastic baggies, bread bags, and other plastic packaging. Too much plastic causes serious quality problems at the processing facility. The mechanisms at the organics processing facility are designed to remove the plastic bags you use to line your containers, but not plastic packaging. Bottom line, plastic is not good for the final product. Your help is appreciated in producing clean, rich compost.

Here's the LNW Organics Collection Program schedule

Q:	Who's on the LNW Organics Collection Program?
A:	The program started at Maple Street Apartments in the month of September 2004.

Q:	When will I receive my indoor container and information?
A:	Maple Street Apartments residents will receive information and containers before the program starts. Containers will be delivered mid-September 2004. If you still need either a bin or start-up information, please call 479-444-7445.

Q:	When can I start using my indoor container?
A:	Please don't start filling your indoor until organics collection actually starts. Even though indoor containers have been delivered ahead of time, so you can get familiar with the equipment, don't start using them until the LNW Organics Collection Program is officially launched.

Q:	Why isn't everyone across the city participating?
A:	This is a pilot program designed to assess what is involved in such a program so that better collection programs can be developed.

How the program works

Q:	Where is the organic material going?
A:	Your organic materials are being taken to compost facilities at nearby gardens.

Q:	What will the finished compost be used for?
A:	It will be used as a soil amendment.

Q:	Is this program safe and sanitary? What about germs/bacteria?
A:	The LNW Organics Collection Program is completely sanitary and safe. It is no different than placing your garbage out for weekly collection.

Q:	How have the indoor containers been tested to ensure they are durable?
A:	The containers have been thoroughly tested by the manufacturer and are guaranteed to last five years. If your indoor container cracks or breaks, please call 479-444-7445 to inquire about replace it (you will need your broken container to receive a replacement).

Q:	Are apartment residents throughout the City participating in the LNW Organics Collection Program?
A:	Not at this time. This pilot project is being undertaken at this apartment complex to determine the system that would work best at this and other apartments.

The big picture: Diverting waste from landfill

Q:	Is the LNW Organics Collection Program really helping Fayetteville reduce waste being sent to landfill?
A:	Yes. Every bit of diversion helps. By keeping food and other organics out of the landfill and diverting it to composting programs the nutrient value is recovered. It also helps our community meet waste reduction goals. Information gathered from this pilot program will go a long way to helping with informed design of better collection programs.

Q:	Why was this program started?
A:	The program was begun to facilitate the better use of available food and natural resources by recovering food scraps and other household organic discards that would otherwise be wasted or disposed of improperly in a landfill.

More questions?

Q:	What if I have a problem after the program starts? Who can I call?
A:	You can call (479) 444-7445.

Collection containers

Container care
The small indoor organics container is hot water safe and can be cleaned with any dishwashing soap. The container should not be placed in a dishwasher because the drying element could cause it to warp. To prevent odors, please wash the container on a regular basis as needed.

Closing the containers
To close the indoor organics container lid, press on the front tab with your thumb. To keep animals out of the curbside container, please keep the lid closed with the latch securely fastened.