WSWMD offers free technical assistance to landlords in our 18 member towns. Meeting health code and waste management mandates from the State can be challenging. For assistance, contact Peter Gaskill, Programs Coordinator, at (802) 257-0272, ext. 118 or [email protected]
Here are some services we might be able to help you with:
- Finding efficient ways to divert Food Scraps to comply with the State mandate
- Understanding what the Vermont Universal Recycling law requires of you, and what is required of your tenants
For a deeper dive regarding the VT Universal Recycling Law and landlords:
In Vermont, a landlord with four or more apartments must provide trash receptacles and arrange for weekly trash, recycling, and food scrap removal. This is required by the state’s Residential Rental Housing Health and Safety Code and the Universal Recycling Law.
The specific regulations are:
Receptacles
- Landlords must provide adequate outside receptacles for trash, recyclables, and food scraps.
- Food scrap bins must be durable and water-tight.
Removal services
- For apartment buildings with four or more residential units, haulers are required to offer food scrap collection service unless another hauler provides it.
- Landlords are responsible for making sure a plan is in place for the weekly removal of trash, recyclables, and food scraps.
- They are not required to pay for the service themselves, as the cost can be factored into the rent.
Property maintenance
- Landlords must keep common areas free of waste to prevent pests and other public health hazards.
Tenant education
- Landlords are required to inform tenants about the proper waste management system for the property and how to use it