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PROPERTY MANAGERS FAQs

1. Why should our community offer this amenity?

There are several ways your community can benefit from Tote Away’s door-to-dumpster service.

You’re putting your residents first. Your residents are your clients. We realize that. And we also realize that your residents are busy. They don’t have time to haul trash to the community dumpster. And they definitely don’t have time to deal with busted or leaky bags. Tote Away’s valet trash service removes that hassle and keeps your property looking its best. Convenience and cleanliness will keep your residents happy.

This amenity will help you grow your community’s bottom line. Today’s target demographic, the Millennial generation, cares about cleanliness and convenience. Giving potential residents a reason to choose you over another community will help you grow. Valet trash service is that reason.

You’re keeping your community safe. As the only valet trash company with a Board Certified Safety Professional on staff, Tote Away is uniquely qualified to help you reach your goal of a safe and secure property. With valets trained to identify and report unsafe conditions and suspicious behaviors, you can have peace of mind knowing your community is safer.

2. How does it work?

It couldn’t be easier to use Tote Away’s door-to-dumpster service.

1. Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., you just open the front door, lift the seat of the bench we provide you, and drop the bag into the container. Now that is convenience.
2. A uniformed Tote Away valet makes the rounds Sunday through Thursday and transfers the trash to a leak-proof carrying container.
3. From there, the valet brings your trash to the community dumpster or compactor, clears away any loose trash, sweeps the breezeways, and tidies common areas.

3. What do you do besides bring trash to the dumpsters?

Glad you asked! In addition to helping your residents by taking trash directly from their doorstep to the community dumpster, we also do the following at no additional cost:

  • Clean breezeways and common areas of trash and spills
  • Clean the area around the community dumpster
  • Straighten outdoor community furniture
  • Observe any unsafe and suspicious activities and report them to you

4. What are service days and times?

Valets collect trash Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and midnight.

5. Do you bill our residents directly?

No, our agreement is with the community. We bill you monthly.

6. Will you help with recycling?

Yes! Tote Away values the environment! If your community elects to offer recycling, we will gladly pick it up for you. Rather than a standard garbage bag, we’ll provide you with a blue recycling bag. You put the blue bag in the container with your garbage bag, and we pick it up at the same time. Garbage goes in the dumpster or compactor; recycling goes in a separate recycling bin.

7. Do you cite non-compliant residents?

Tote Away does not issue violations. As part of our agreement with your community, we communicate any breach of waste collection process to management. You decide as a management team, based on community standards of cleanliness, whether to issue a violation notice.

8. How do we get in touch with you?

You can call us directly at 877.237.5123 or email us at service@tote-away.com.

9. What’s permitted in the trash?

Almost anything that fits in the bag and weighs less than 25 pounds. (See “What do I do with boxes?” below) We do request that you not put broken glass, jagged edges, or loose sharps in your bags as these are both more likely to rip the bag and to endanger your valet. We also ask that you to refrain from throwing away anything that is illegal in your municipality or state. For example, it is illegal in most places to discard motor oil, paint, or hazardous liquids.

10. What’s permitted in recycling?

Aluminum cans – please rinse empty cans and throw sharp-rimmed lids into garbage; you can also recycle aluminum foil if it is first rinsed clean of any food.

Cardboard – flatten completely before putting in bag.

Paper –, magazines, newspaper (remove from plastic delivery bag), phone books, copier and writing paper.
Plastic containers – only #1 and #2 plastics (see bottom of container for the number); rinse empty plastics and discard tops, lids, or bottle caps.

Steel cans – please rinse empty cans and throw sharp-rimmed lids into garbage.

11. What’s NOT permitted in recycling?

Pretty much anything NOT included in the acceptable list (above). This includes, among other things, garbage, glass, sharps, any plastic items numbered 3 through 7, Styrofoam, plastic bags, batteries, and electronics.