Submitted by Terry McGuire

Composting at Collington started in November 2018. For variety of reasons, that initial attempt failed. In 2020, the Compost bins located near the greenhouse had to be shut down. All compost operations were moved to the Hilltop Gardens. In April 2021, all of the commercially available plastic bins were replaced by four custom-build wooden bins. Each of these bins holds about 160 gallons of kitchen and green waste.

I have recently given talks about composting at several District meetings. It has become apparent that many residents believe that there is no composting remaining at Collington. Nothing could be further from the truth. Behind the black fence in the 5000’s is the Hilltop Garden. In the Hilltop Garden are four active compost bins that produce 100’s of gallons of rich compost each year.

All residents may use these bins. Add kitchen waste to the bins marked with green dots. There is a metal tool which you may spread out your waste into thin layer. You dig a hole in the existing leaves or add a handful of dried to cover the waste. You are done. The compost committee will take it from there.

As of April 1, 2022 residents in the apartments may deliver their kitchen waste to the green buckets (pictured above) in the recycling rooms on the first floor of the apartments. The collected waste will be delivered to the Hilltop Gardens on Tuesday and Fridays.

This post is available as a handout: Composting

Continue reading “Composting is Alive and Well at Collington” →

Submitted by the Sustainability Committee

What does Collington do with old appliances and fixtures?

Collington always has items that it no longer needs.   It happened in the clear-out needed to start the Bistro.  It happens when units become empty and are refurbished for new residents.  It happened when Administration moved up a floor.   It has happened recently as try-out cottages are changed into sales units.  

Items may include outdated, but still functional stoves, dishwashers, and fridges.  It may be shelving, old picture frames, tables, filing cabinets, desks that the OO Shop doesn’t think it can sell quickly.  It may be kitchen cabinets that have life left in them.

A few items are kept in storage as emergency replacements for residents.   The rest of the still serviceable items are carefully priced to reflect their age and life expectancy.   Then, once a sufficient number have accumulated, there’s a special garage-type sale, open only to Collington staff.  

So far this year there have been three such sales, which have yielded some $4800.

That’s the first “win”.

The second “win” comes from what the money is used for:  it all goes towards the costs of the annual staff holiday party, an end-of-year, off-site bash with raffles and door prizes and food and fun.   So the staff members get to buy useful things cheaply and know that their money is going to give them future pleasure too.  

Then there’s a third “win”: whatever doesn’t sell is given away to Habitat for Humanity.  

The fourth “win” is a win for sustainability:  serviceable items end up being put to good use instead of prematurely ending up in a landfill.   

So Collington has a quadruple win solution!