Sustainability Services will be offering lithium ion battery recycling as a separate recycling event beginning in July.  Villagers have been requesting this service for several months.  Batteries that are used to power cordless power tools, cordless appliances, laptops, tablets, smart phones. alarms, and the like will be accepted for recycling.  NO charging units,  car batteries, golf cart batteries, e-bike batteries and scooter batteries.  Please bring each battery in a plastic bag.  The monthly household battery collection will continue to accept the button lithium ion batteries and the  household  A, AA, AAA, C, D,  and 9 volt lithium batteries.  Please direct questions to Sustainability Services at 408 754-1334.

When: Fridays June 13 and June 27   (6/27  with light bulbs)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (No early drop-offs, please)

Where: Tennis court parking lot near the air station
What: Household batteries only (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and button batteries)

• Corroded batteries must be bagged in plastic
• Residents are encouraged to bring their batteries directly to the collection events
• No e-waste or general rubbish

What: Light Bulbs

Recycling Limits:

• Fluorescent Tubes:

  • Up to 4 feet long
  • Must be unbroken and taped together
  • Limit: 2 per household

• CFL Bulbs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs):

  • Must be unbroken, sealed in paper with tape or in a sealed bag
  • Limit: 4 per household

• LED Bulbs:

  • Must be unbroken, sealed in paper with tape or in a sealed bag
  • Limit: 4 per household

• Light bulbs must be sorted by type and  sealed in paper or in a plastic bag

Important Update for DACs in 2025:

• No appointment needed!
• A 25-pound limit per collection date applies.
• DACs handling large quantities should take them to the County Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site(appointment required).

Need an alternative drop-off time?
If the scheduled dates don’t work for you, contact the Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Siteat 408-299-7300 to make an appointment.

For questions, reach out to Sustainability Services at 408-754-1334 or email mtatum@the-villages.com.

Hello! It’s great to be connecting with you all again. As I mentioned previously, my role is all about upholding The Villages’ standards and creating a positive atmosphere for all residents. This includes everything from ensuring common areas are being maintained, to addressing any concerns that might arise.

The Power of a Supportive Approach

I understand that resolving certain issues can take time, and I want to reassure you that I’m here to help. My approach is meant to be collaborative and supportive, and I’m committed to working with you to ensure any concerns are addressed in a way that upholds our community standards. If additional time is needed, I’m willing to discuss an extension so everyone has a fair opportunity to take the necessary steps.

Community Inspections: A Glimpse into the Future of Oversight

The inspection process will be thorough while remaining respectful of each property. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that all areas are properly maintained and to address any concerns that may impact the overall safety, appearance, and functionality of our community spaces. If any issues are identified during the inspection, residents will be notified and given a reasonable amount of time to make corrections before a follow-up inspection is conducted.

Also as mentioned, I will be communicating to the districts of upcoming inspections. Upcoming in the next few weeks, I will be conducting inspections in the Heights, focusing on safety and fire hazards, overgrown plants and trees, and clearance of entryways.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to maintain the values and standards that make our community special. By supporting one another, we help ensure that The Villages remains not only a wonderful place to live, but a community where everyone contributes to making it the best it can be.

If this article sparked any thoughts or questions, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at communitystandards@the-villages.com or 408-754-1350.

Reduce Recycling Contamination this summer

The City of San Jose  has some top contamination contenders that are thought to be recyclable but are not. Snack wrappers are among the top contaminators in recycling bins,  

Why? – The shiny lining is often a coating of aluminum or mixed plastic.  Since recycling plants cannot separate the layers, these mixed -material  bags are not recyclable and must be placed in the garbage.

According to the new CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, The Villages does not have any property in the “Very High” fire zone. While much of the perimeter of the Villages is indeed in the High Fire Zone, the remainder of the Villages is not. There are more stringent fire control regulations required for those living in the higher zones. Evaluation of the impact to those living in the “High” zone is underway and more information is forthcoming. To find out if you live in a “High” fire zone, click the link below, then use the magnifying glass icon to search for your address: https://sccfiresafe.org/resources/do-you-reside-in-santa-clara-countys-wildland-urban-interface-wui/

Earth Day and What It Means for Villagers

Earth Day was established in 1970, and since then, more than 192 countries have come together to celebrate it annually on April 22. For us here in The Villages, Earth Day is more than just a celebration—it’s a reminder of how we can contribute to a more sustainable future.

As Villagers become increasingly aware of sustainable practices and learn to better distinguish between recyclables and garbage, we have the opportunity to significantly reduce waste. Even more importantly, we can divert more of our waste into renewable and reusable resources.

Many Villagers have asked: What actually happens to our garbage and recyclables after they’re picked up? To help answer that question, I recently had an opportunity  to join Sustainability Club members Bill DeVincenzi and Rick Alpers for a tour of the Green Waste facility in San Jose.

If you’ve ever thought garbage couldn’t be exciting—think again. The facility, which is impressively clean and well-organized, is divided into two main buildings: one for garbage and one for recycling. What they achieve there is truly remarkable. Using a combination of high-speed conveyor belts, AI technology, human sorters, and robotic sorters, the facility processes 45 tons of household waste and recyclables every hour.

Here’s the incredible part:

• 85% of single-stream recyclables are recovered
• 75% of garbage and mixed compostables are diverted from landfills
• 98% of yard trimmings are repurposed

The mystery of where our waste goes—and how it’s handled—has been solved. And what we learned confirms that our individual efforts to recycle properly really do make a difference.

As part of The Villages 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, Villagers have been invited to join focus group discussions. These discussions identify what is important to Villagers and will be incorporated in a July 2025 survey where all Villagers will have an opportunity to participate. Villagers who responded to the focus-group invite will meet May 7 or 8. In these 90-minute sessions, our consultant will receive input about The Villages various programs, clubs and events, services and amenities that best serve The Villages and our membership.

Our strategic plan consultant, The McMahon Group, has been working with the boards and management since fall 2024. The 2025-2028 Strategic Plan’s purpose is to guide the decisions and actions of the leadership of The Villages as it carefully and thoughtfully addresses critical experience, development, safety and financial issues covering this three-year period. The Villages leadership has invested considerable time and effort in the plan’s development. To date, the planning process includes:

• Reviewing trends in the community/club industry

• Reviewing the trends within our community and marketplace

• Developing/refining statements on our direction and culture: mission, vision and values

• Analyzing and updating our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)

• Identifying top goals for the next immediate three years – becoming a rolling three-year outlook that evolves annually to guide future priorities

• Developing strategic initiatives, including action items, to meet our goals

The development of this plan comes at a critical time in the history of the community where The Villages aging infrastructure and dated amenities demand financial attention while the popularity of 55+ communities increase, creating competition to attract future Villagers.

Survey timeline 

• May 6 – Board Session

• May 7-8 – Focus Groups Sessions

• May End – Focus Group Report and Survey Draft

• Mid-July – Survey Draft Approved

• Mid-August – Survey to Villagers

• September/October – Executive Summary

Sussner Joins the survey effort 

To leverage the work with the focus groups, our branding consultant will join this phase to align member feedback with our branding initiative. This partnership will help us develop a brand strategy that authentically reflects who we are as a club and community.

For more on the branding initiative, please read this month’s GM Corner.

Questions? Please contact the General Manager’s office by emailing Theresa Ostrander at tostrander@the-villages.com or by calling the team at (408) 223-4634. 

We have heard from many Villagers about the desire to have The Villages recycle beer and wine bottles. At this time, The Villages is unable to offer this service, however there are resources nearby. Due to changes in recycling laws, beverage containers without a CRV label are now recyclable. This includes glass, aluminum and plastic beverage containers. Villagers can now take their wine and beer bottles, cans, juice containers and water bottles to Re-Use Recycling on 2930 Aborn Square Road to get paid for these recyclables. They are located in the shopping center parking lot on the corner of Aborn Road and Capitol Expressway. Please see the specifics below.

Recycling Center Details for Re-Use Recycling 

2930 Aborn Square Rd
San Jose, CA 95121
(510) 674-5206

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

After nearly two years, our dedicated resident volunteers, on January 7, received the Firewise USA certificate of recognition. The Villages is the first Firewise community in the City of San Jose and the largest in Santa Clara County. Since November 2024, the committee has been conducting home ignition zone inspections, utilizing Fire Aside software and iPads to assess key exterior building and landscaping components. A Wildfire Preparation Workshop event is planned for May 3 as part of the National Wildfire Preparation Day in conjunction with Firewise program sponsor, the National Fire Prevention Association.

For more coverage
https://sccfiresafe.org/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTWLpnP4Hm/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Deisy Gomez, The Villages Comcast/Xfinity Account Manager, is available for virtual appointments every Friday by appointment from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Please use https://calendly.com/deisygomez1326/the-villages to make an appointment.

For general Xfinity support, please call 855-307-4896.