Waste Stream Management Solutions
Furniture and Bulky Item Remove
Removal of large, unwanted household items left near enclosures, trash collection areas, or trash rooms—including prohibited items not collected by municipal providers.
SB 1383 (Organic Waste Compliance)
Receptacle Cross Contamination Monitoring
- Breaking Down Cardboard: Cardboard boxes are flattened to fit efficiently in recycling bins, optimizing space and meeting recycling facility standards.
- No Trash in Recycling: Non-recyclables (e.g., food waste, plastic bags) are removed from recycling bins to prevent contamination and maintain a clean recycling stream.
- No Recycling in Trash: Misplaced recyclables (e.g., paper, glass) in trash bins are relocated to recycling, reducing trash volume and supporting sustainability.
- Sorting Process: The team visually inspects each container, removing items placed in the incorrect container or inappropriately disposed of (e.g., un-collapsed cardboard or contaminated recyclables), using gloves or tools to ensure proper placement. Issues are documented for potential tenant education or signage.
Appliance, Paint, Electronics, other Recycling Services
Collects and recycles large appliances (refrigerators, ovens, washers) in compliance with disposal regulations.
Hazardous Waste Recycling
Picks up CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes, batteries, paint, and other hazardous materials for EPA compliant disposal and recycling.
Trash Receptacle Shifting/Staging
- Container Transportation (Staging and Return):
- UPSI teams move refuse (trash), recycling, and organics containers from internal areas (e.g., trash rooms, chutes, or HOA common zones) to curbside or central pickup spots compliant with LA Sanitation's RecycLA zones or Ventura's hauler schedules (e.g., via providers like E.J. Harrison & Sons or Athens Services).
- Post-pickup, containers are returned promptly, minimizing resident access issues in multi-story apartments or gated HOA communities. This aligns with LA County Code Title 20 (Division 4B) and Ventura Ordinance No. 4590, which require accessible, enclosed storage for bins.
- Receptacle Balancing:
- UPSI assesses and swaps containers between high-usage areas (e.g., apartment lobbies or HOA clubhouses) and low-usage ones (e.g., upper floors or perimeter homes) to even out fill levels.
- By redistributing capacity, it prevents overflows, encourages proper sorting (trash, recycling, organics like food scraps and yard waste), and reduces overall waste volume sent to haulers—directly cutting weekly pickup needs.
How Receptacle Balancing Reduces Weekly Pickups
In LA and Ventura County multi-family settings, waste generation is high due to dense populations, but uneven usage leads to frequent, inefficient collections (often 1-2 times weekly under default hauler contracts). UPSI's balancing optimizes this as follows:
- Capacity Optimization: Swapping ensures no bin overflows prematurely, allowing full loads across all containers. This can consolidate waste into fewer effective pickups, e.g., from twice-weekly to once-weekly for balanced properties, per SB 1383 guidelines for organic diversion (75% target by 2025).
- Diversion Compliance: California's SB 1383 requires apartments (5+ units) and HOAs to divert organics (food scraps, yard trimmings) from trash, using green bins. Balancing promotes better resident sorting, reducing contaminated loads and hauler surcharges. In Ventura, where multi-family properties generating 4+ cubic yards/week must recycle, this avoids fines and qualifies for exemptions if space-constrained.
- Cost and Frequency Savings: By minimizing overflows and contamination, properties can downsize bin sizes or extend intervals (e.g., from 96-gallon weekly to bi-weekly), saving 20-30% on hauling fees (common in LA RecycLA zones). For example, a 100-unit apartment might drop from 6 weekly pickups to 4, as seen in similar CA multi-family programs.
Property Management Solutions
Association SMS/TEXT Self Reporting
Sends a scheduled text to confirm if service is required that week before dispatch.
Resident Bill Back Invoicing
Provides itemized invoices with photo documentation for billing tenants responsible for dumping, special cleanups, or compliance-related service costs.
Work Order Completion Email Notification
Receive an email or SMS notification when a work order of service request has been scheduled or completed.
Other Services
Elevator Shaft/Pit Pumping
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
Pressure Washing and Sanitizing
Trash Area/Enclosure/Container Sanitizing
- The team physically removes all trash bins, dumpsters, or receptacles from their designated enclosures, such as fenced or walled areas. This step provides full access to the enclosure’s interior surfaces (floor, walls) and the receptacles’ exteriors for thorough cleaning, targeting areas that are typically hard to reach during regular use.
- The team sweeps the enclosure to collect loose debris, such as leaves, paper, food scraps, or litter. Clearing loose debris prepares the surfaces for deeper cleaning by removing contaminants that could interfere with subsequent steps like degreasing or steam cleaning.
- An organic degreaser is sprayed onto heavily soiled areas, such as grease stains, oil spills, or sticky residues. The team then scrubs these areas with brushes or specialized tools to break down tough grime. The organic degreaser, a biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning agent, targets grease and organic matter, while scrubbing ensures the removal of stubborn residues adhered to surfaces.
- High-pressure steam cleaning equipment is used to sanitize the enclosure’s interior surfaces and the receptacles’ exteriors, applying hot, pressurized water vapor (often exceeding 200°F/93°C). Steam cleaning removes dirt, bacteria, and odor-causing particles through high-temperature vapor, disinfecting surfaces without relying on chemical agents.
- After cleaning, the team repositions the receptacles into their designated spots within the enclosure, ensuring proper alignment and accessibility. This restores the trash area to full functionality, maintaining organization for waste disposal or collection services.
- A deodorizing enzyme, typically a biological agent, is sprayed or applied to the enclosure and receptacles as the final step. The enzyme breaks down odor-causing organic compounds (e.g., from decomposing food or liquids) at a molecular level, neutralizing smells rather than masking them with fragrances.
Trash Chute and Trash Room Cleaning
Power scrubs and sanitizes trash chutes to eliminate odor, bacteria, and residue that attracts pests.
Parking Garage Cleaning/Pressure Washing
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
Building Pressure Washing
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
Community Support Services
Enclosure Sweep-out Service
Enclosure Overflow and Cross-Contamination Monitoring
Overflow occurs when waste exceeds the capacity of a receptacle, resulting in items spilling out or piling up around it. This can happen due to:
- High volumes: Increased waste generation, such as during events, holidays, or peak seasons, that exceeds the receptacle’s capacity.
- Missed pickups: Delays or failures in scheduled waste collection, causing accumulation.
- Misuse: Incorrect disposal practices, such as placing non-recyclable items in recycling bins or bulky items in standard receptacles, which reduces available space.
- Inspection process: The team conducts regular checks during each visit to identify overflow. This involves:
- Visually assessing receptacles for items spilling over the edges or accumulating nearby.
- Checking for signs of overpacking, such as compacted waste or items protruding from the receptacle.
- Noting any patterns (e.g., recurring overflow at specific locations) to address underlying issues like insufficient bin capacity or collection frequency.
- Removal of overflowed items: When overflow is identified, the team removes excess waste, such as bags, food waste, or other debris, that has spilled or been placed outside the receptacle. This process involves:
- Recyclables: Items like paper, plastic, glass, or metal are separated and placed in appropriate recycling streams, if not contaminated.
- Non-recyclables: General waste, such as food scraps or non-recyclable plastics, is directed to landfill-bound streams.
- Contaminated items: If recyclables are contaminated (e.g., food-soiled cardboard), they may need to be treated as general waste to avoid compromising recycling processes.
Day Porter Service
Provides on-site staff for daily cleaning, litter pickup, and basic facility upkeep, helping when short-staffed or during busy times.
Janitorial Service
Provides on-site staff for the cleaning of club house, rest rooms, pool showers, and basic community upkeep.
Graffiti Removal
Remove graffiti from walls or enclosures to maintain community appearance and deter vandalism.
Hosted Community Clean-up and Recycle Day
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
Owner Rental Unit Clean-out Service
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
Resident/Tenant Assistance Service
Assists residents in removing and disposing of furnishings from their unit—an alternative to illegal dumping. (paid directly by the tenant)
Pet Station Service
Service Pet Stations ensuring there are always Doggie Bags, empty waste receptacles, wipe down stations, and deodorize.
Rain Gutter Cleaning
This Sections Content is Under Development
and updated each week so keep checking back to learn more
