I live in a 1980's condo rental in Columbus. This development has 136 units and twelve full-sized dumpsters. This seems laughable to me but I don't remember how many are generally required in multifamily res. They get emptied at least once a week, sometimes twice.

 

The 1990's development across the street has one compacting dumpster for about 280 units. This is in line with previous places I have lived.

 

Anybody know the common suggested number? Cause I'm pretty sure this board is paying like six times what they should be for waste removal.

I live in a 1980's condo rental in Columbus. This development has 136 units and twelve full-sized dumpsters. This seems laughable to me but I don't remember how many are generally required in multifamily res. They get emptied at least once a week, sometimes twice.

 

The 1990's development across the street has one compacting dumpster for about 280 units. This is in line with previous places I have lived.

 

Anybody know the common suggested number? Cause I'm pretty sure this board is paying like six times what they should be for waste removal.

 

If all six are picked up at the same time, and less frequently, maybe not. 

Twelve. Not six.

You raise an interesting question Civvik.  I don't know if this will answer your question, but you might want to examine the Columbus Municipal Code for Refuse Collection (Title 13).  Particularly CHAPTER 1309: MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT AND MULTIPLE DWELLING DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS.  The link to the full Columbus Municipal Codes is https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=16219 - then you can search Title 13 for Chapter 1309 or use the keyword "dumpster" to get to it.

 

It looks like there are seven rules to follow to be code compliant for multiple dwelling units (i.e. apartment buildings).  However, two factors come into play to determine if an apartment complex is covered by those rules.  One is developments constructed prior to 1984 have the ability to be grandfathered.  And then also if the "development uses private service then private service would continue and no requirement for dumpsters or compactor-containers would exist unless city service is requested".  So the answer to your dumpster question might depend if the "1984" and/or the "private service" exemptions apply to your condo complex. 

 

FWIW, the minimum city code requirement in Chapter 1309.01 is for each "multiple dwelling development provide a minimum of one-half (½) cubic yard of dumpster capacity ... for each unit".  Which might help you gauge whether or not 12 dumpsters is an overcapacity for your condo complex.

How many cubic feet is each dumpster? Also, what is the recycling status of the complex? When curbside recycling happened late last year our trash volume dropped by like 75%.

Built in 1988.

 

~8 cubic yard dumpsters.

 

Sounds like capacity for over 200 units.

 

The kicker: emptied every Monday at 6:30 AM.

 

Since they're all basically empty all the time anyhow , every Monday before dawn you hear "BOOM!"

 

Twelve times.

How many cubic feet is each dumpster? Also, what is the recycling status of the complex? When curbside recycling happened late last year our trash volume dropped by like 75%.

 

No recycling.  :(

We have about six 4x3 "mini dumpsters" that are rotated daily and sit beneath a compactor unit in the basement.  I don't know how often they are emptied since I throw the trash in a chute in the stairwell and it magically goes away.  I know our recycling gets picked up once a week, and we have two recycling dumpsters.  But Chicago picks up garbage everyday, and I really can't image all of them being full daily.  We have 215 apartments in our building.

So based on all this it sounds like something is fishy. Maybe someone on the condo board works for the waste management company...

I've seen a lot of random threads in my life but this one is...for the dumps!

I've seen a lot of random threads in my life but this one is...for the dumps!

 

Are you saying it should be trashed?

Since you rent there isn't much you can do. If you have some friends who are resident-owners discuss the matter them. An owner should

be able to get their hands on the income-expense disclosure of the association.

So based on all this it sounds like something is fishy. Maybe someone on the condo board works for the waste management company...

 

Or they just don't know anything about that sort of thing and got upsold.

 

Maybe somebody accidentally made things in cubic feet instead of yards like on Spinal Tap.

This is TOTALLY a random thread. But seriously, I call this place Dumpster Manor, because as soon as you pull in you just literally see dumpsters everywhere. It's the most random, bizarre issue in housing ever.

 

I do know a couple people who rent directly from their owner, I'll ask them to pass it along. My intuition as a former site planner is that this place needs maybe 2 dumpsters. Not 12.