Trash valet is a premium doorstep waste collection service designed to make life easier for residents and property managers in apartment complexes and multi-family communities.

Instead of residents having to carry their trash to a distant dumpster or deal with overflowing bins, a trained team picks up bagged trash and recycling right from each doorstep on a set schedule. The bags are then taken to the proper on-site disposal area, keeping the community clean, odor free, and more secure.

• Convenience for Residents: No more late-night walks to the dumpster. Residents simply place their trash outside in a provided container, and it’s taken care of.

• Cleaner Communities: Regular, scheduled pickups reduce litter, odor, and pest problems. Leading to a more attractive property overall.

• Better for Property Managers: Trash valet services improve resident satisfaction, reduce turnover, and free up maintenance staff to focus on bigger issues.

• Silent Operations: Modern  BUFA trash valet teams work quietly and efficiently, often without residents even noticing.

• Amenity That Adds Value: It’s a service that residents appreciate and are often willing to pay for.

Accepted Recycling Items

Paper Items: 

• Junk mail, paper bags, computer & writing paper
• Cardboard boxes (remove packing material and
  have them broken down)
• Milk, juice & ice cream cartons
• Facial tissue boxes, cereal, detergent, shoe boxes
  & other packaging containers

Glass Items:

• Bottles & jars containing a food or beverage
  when purchased
• Juice, soda, beer & wine bottles, etc.
• Baby food, mayonnaise, pickle & jelly jars, etc.

Plastic Items: 

• Cups & containers #1 – #7
• Plastic bottles, jugs and jars (milk, peanut butter,
  soda, water, mustard, shampoo, mouthwash,
  medicine, lotion, detergent, bleach,etc.)
• Yogurt, cottage cheese, margarine & whipped
  topping containers
• “Clamshell” food containers (e.g.- produce, baked
  goods, etc.)

Metal Items: 

• Metal cans containing a food or beverage when
  purchase
• Soda & beer cans; aluminum foil products
• Vegetable, soup, tuna, & pet food cans, etc.

• Junk mail, paper bags, computer & writing paper
• Cardboard boxes (remove packing material and
  have them broken down)
• Milk, juice & ice cream cartons
• Juice, soda, beer & wine bottles, etc.
• Baby food, mayonnaise, pickle & jelly jars, etc.
• Aminal waste (must be double bagged)
• Diapers (must be double bagged)
• Food wrap, potato chip bags, metallic gift wrap
• Plastic bottles, jugs and jars (milk, peanut butter,
  soda, etc.)
• Yogurt, cottage cheese, margarine & whipped
  topping containers
• Food containers (e.g.- produce, baked goods, etc.)
• Metal cans containing a food or beverage when
  purchased
• Soda & beer cans; aluminum foil products
• Vegetable, soup, tuna, & pet food cans, etc.
• Styrofoam, plastic bags and plastic wrap
• Dishes, cups, light bulbs (not CFLs), pottery, pots and pans

Non-Acceptable Recycling Item

• Air-conditioning filters
• Batteries
• Candy wrappers
• Clothes hangers, scrap metal, automotive parts
• Clothing, cloth or rags
• Diapers
• Dinnerware (glass or plastic)
• Dog/cat food bags
• Fast food items (food, wrappers, or greasy bags)
• Gift wrap, shredded paper
• Hazardous waste
• Inserts from paperboard boxes (plastic bags/trays)
• Photographs, hardback or paperback books
• Light bulbs, ceramics or window glass
• Motor-oil containers
• Packing materials (styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap)
• Paper towels, napkins, tissues or paper plates
• Plastic bags (any type)
• Potato chip bags
• Propane or oxygen tanks
• PVC piping
• Rubber bands or elastic products
• Styrofoam (including egg cartons)
• Trash
• Wood or yard waste
• Blueprints, heat sensitive receipt paper

• Paint, pesticide or oven cleaner cans
• Computers and large electronics
• Window panes, mirrors, light bulbs
• Windshields, car windows, treated glass, glass
  table tops, televisions
• Medical Waste (needles, syringes, bags, filters
  and tubes)
• Furniture
• Wood or plastic crates
• Large and small appliances

Our policy is built around safety, legal compliance, and liability reduction. Our valets are strictly prohibited from collecting any materials classified as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). This ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and, most importantly, protects our employees and the property.

The Procedure When HHW is Found

1. Non-Collection and Containment: The valet will refuse to collect the item(s) and will leave the hazardous material container at the designated service area ( the resident’s door). They will not move it or place it in the community dumpster. If there is a spill, they will immediately notify the supervisor.

2. Immediate Documentation: The valet will take a photo and note the specific unit number, date, time, and type of hazardous material (e.g., paint can, car battery).

3. Resident Notification: The valet will attach a Violation Notice to the item or the door, clearly explaining why the item was not collected and providing information on proper disposal.

4. Property Manager Reporting: All hazardous material incidents are immediately escalated to the Property Manager via a special report, including the photographic evidence. This is the ultimate, crucial step.

   • Our Goal: To provide the property manager with the data needed to enforce community rules and direct the resident to the appropriate local HHW disposal programs (which often include curbside HHW collection or dedicated drop-off events).

Materials Classified as Hazardous

Our employees are trained to recognize and refuse common HHW items, including but not limited to:

• Flammables: Paint, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, full aerosol cans.

• Corrosives/Toxics: Bleach, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, strong cleaners.

   

• Batteries: All types, especially lithium-ion batteries and car batteries (a significant fire risk).

• Electronics: TVs, computers, cell phones (due to heavy metals and batteries).

   

• Sharps/Medical Waste: Needles, syringes, and lancets.

   

• Bulky/Heavy Items: Furniture, tires, construction debris.

This rigorous policy is in place to safeguard our team, your residents, and the physical property.

We strive for zero incidents by training our valets on safe and cautious trash handling.

If a spill or accidental damage occurs, we take full ownership of the resolution. We will ensure the area is properly cleaned, and any damage is professionally repaired or replaced. Maintaining a positive resident experience is our top priority.

Let us know if you have anything to report. Contact Us

We focus on preventative documentation and clear communication. Unlike competitors, we do not charge residents violation fees.

Our valets use a three-step process to address repeated issues:

1. Direct Reminder: The valet leaves a detailed reminder notice on the resident’s door after the first violation.

2. Record Keeping: We maintain a detailed log of all recurring issues (type of violation, time, and date).

3. Actionable Reporting: All records of repeat offenders are included in the weekly property management report. This system gives you, the property manager, the necessary data to address and resolve chronic compliance issues directly.

• Loose Trash – Any loose trash around the trash container or in it. This happens when a resident doesn’t use a trash bag. 

• Excessive Trash – Multiple bags are set out that do not fit in the trash container. 

• Trash Container Not Used – Trash bag not in the provided container. 

• Bulk Item – Large bulky item that isn’t easily moved by one person, or would take multiple people. 

• Boxes Not Broken Down – Boxes not broken down and put behind the trash container. 

We ensure property managers are consistently informed through a structured approach centered on routine reporting and immediate escalation.

1. The Weekly Compliance Report

Our primary tool is a detailed weekly report delivered every [Day of the week, e.g., Monday morning]. This report is a crucial partnership asset that includes:

• Service Confirmation: A summary of all scheduled pickups completed.

• Violation Log: A complete record of all non-compliant units, including the nature of the violation (e.g. unbagged waste) and photographic evidence.

• Trend Analysis: Highlights units with repeated violations, giving you the data needed for effective rule enforcement.

2. Immediate Issue Escalation

For urgent matters, our policy is to move beyond the weekly report:

• Damage/Spills: Any accidental property damage or major spill is immediately reported to the on-site team via phone call or text message, followed by immediate initiation of our repair/cleanup protocol.

• Hazardous Materials: Discovery of any prohibited items (e.g., batteries, chemicals) is instantly reported to the property manager to coordinate proper disposal by the resident.

Our goal is not just to report, but to provide information that helps you manage the community better.

Service on Holidays

Our team will generally not provide service on the evening of the dates listed below. However, depending on community demand and scheduling needs, limited service may be provided on a modified schedule.

Current Scheduled No-Service Dates:

• New Year’s Eve (December 31st)

• New Year’s Day (January 1st)

• Independence Day (July 4th)

• Thanksgiving Day

• Labor Day

• Christmas Eve (December 24th)

• Christmas Day (December 25th)

Any changes to this schedule will be communicated by your property manager in advance.

An overflowing bin or non-functioning compactor is a service halt for your valets and a major health and safety issue for the property.

Protocol:

1. Stop Service and Document:

   • The valet immediately stops collecting trash for any building or area whose bin is full and unserviceable.

   • The valet takes time-stamped, clear photographs of the overflowing condition as evidence.

2. Immediate Notification by phone:

   • The valet or supervisor immediately notifies the property manager via phone call or text message to report the critical issue.

3. Formal Violation Report:

   • The supervisor files a formal report detailing the unserviceable condition and the specific time and location.

   • The report explicitly states that doorstep collection for that area was halted due to safety and sanitation concerns.

4. Resumption of Service:

   • Service remains suspended for the affected area until the property confirms the bin has been emptied or the compactor repaired.

   • Once confirmed, your team will coordinate a special make-up collection the next service night, or as scheduled with the PM.

 In cases of severe bad weather (e.g., heavy snow, major storms) that makes it unsafe for our valets, we will notify you or your PM  immediately and aim to resume service as soon as conditions allow, often doubling up on the next safe collection day.