How the Haz Waste Program partners with property managers to keep residents safe

The Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County strives to ensure everyone lives in a safe and healthy home. To achieve that goal, we recognize that households take root in a variety of housing types and communities, each with their own distinct circumstances.

For example, nearly half of King County households are part of “multifamily housing,” according to figures from the Washington State Office of Financial Management. Multifamily housing is a broad category of homes that includes places like apartments, townhomes, and condominiums – basically any building or complex where more than one household resides.

For the hundreds of thousands of King County residents who live in multifamily housing, they know as well as anyone how much a healthy home environment depends on conscientious cooperation between neighbors. But in contrast with many single-family housing residents, people living in multifamily arrangements are especially reliant on landlords, building supervisors, and other property management professionals to provide safe living spaces.

For that reason, the King County Housing Authority (KCHA), which owns more than 12,700 units across more than 155 properties in King County, is an ideal partner for the Haz Waste Program. To expand the impact of the Haz Waste Program’s resources and expertise, our knowledgeable Business Services staff work closely with KCHA employees to reduce or eliminate potential hazardous exposures for thousands of residents.

A perfect match

Many multifamily housing properties, especially largescale complexes, require their own maintenance staff and facilities. These maintenance operators oversee smaller tasks like changing lightbulbs, fixing broken appliances, and cleaning common areas, as well as larger efforts like turning over units for new residents. In nearly every part of their job, these workers make choices that influence exposure to hazards such as some cleaning products or automotive fluids. Doing this work efficiently and responsively is essential to providing a functional living space. But performing these operations safely, with minimal risk to residents and staff alike, is just as important.

That’s why KCHA has partnered with the Haz Waste Program. The Program’s Business Services team is experienced in advising a diverse array of businesses and organizations on how to properly handle, store, and dispose of hazardous materials in the workplace. They also help businesses adopt new practices and products that are safer and more environmentally friendly than outdated methods – and help secure financial incentives to make the transition.

Our Business Services team’s stellar track record with local business outreach and assistance makes the Haz Waste Program a perfect match for KCHA’s commitment to providing safe, healthy, and affordable housing for their residents. 

Looking out for each other

Heidi Zarghami is one of the Haz Waste Program employees who works with KCHA. She travels to KCHA properties to meet maintenance staff and get a close look at how they work, offering guidance and support for improving operational safety.

On a recent visit to KCHA’s Woodside East Apartments in Renton, Heidi met with Community Manager Marcos Valencia and Service Supervisor Dan Neal to assist with the property’s EnviroStars certification – an important recognition for organizations like KCHA that are looking to tout their environmentally-friendly business practices. Marcos and Dan led Heidi on a tour of the property’s maintenance facilities, as Heidi took notes and offered suggestions for safety and eco-friendly enhancements.

Before the partnership with Haz Waste, Marcos says KCHA was already doing things like switching to LED bulbs and using energy-efficient appliances. He says Heidi has helped Woodside East make even more improvements since they began working together, such as adding signage for waste sorting and improving their hazardous products storage.

“Heidi brought us some tips and tricks, like switching to Green Seal products that are more environmentally safe to use,” Marcos says. “And she helped us get rid of unwanted products that weren’t necessary, that we don’t even utilize.”

For KCHA, these improvements require some effort. Staff must learn to adjust to new ways of doing things, familiarizing themselves with safer methods and materials. The Haz Waste Program supports these changes with training, expertise, and financial incentives.

As Marcos sees it, keeping KCHA housing safe is a fundamental responsibility: “We all want to look out for the welfare of others and of the place where we live.”

Work with us

Does your business provide property management services? Whether you support a sprawling apartment complex or a handful of rental properties, the Haz Waste Program shares your interest in keeping your tenants safe and free of toxic exposures.

Schedule a no-cost consultation with our technical staff for customized recommendations by calling 206-296-4692 or emailing haz.waste@kingcounty.gov.