When you manage a multi-family property, such as an apartment complex, it’s incumbent on you to provide a smooth, positive experience for your residents. That’s how you retain high levels of satisfaction, it’s how you get leases renewed, and it’s how you attract new tenants as units become available.
One of the most important ways to improve the resident experience is to provide seamless, efficient ways to dispose of waste. This means more than just easy-to-reach dumpsters. It also means implementing a recycling program, providing your residents with a clear way to exercise environmental stewardship.
As you develop a recycling program for your apartment complex, you’ll want to do everything you can to raise awareness and ramp up participation. Consider a few basic tips to encourage your residents to recycle.
● Place plenty of recycling bins. If it’s too difficult or time-consuming to recycle, or if residents have to walk halfway across the property just to find the nearest bin, then you can expect lower levels of participation. To get more people participating in your recycling program, make it as easy as possible; put out plenty of bins, proximate to each building on your site.
● Ensure regular recycling pickups. If your recycling bins are filled to overflowing, your residents will be discouraged from placing their items in the proper place. They may simply decide it’s not worth the hassle and toss their recyclables in the garbage dumpster. It’s crucial to have regular recycling pickups from your waste management vendor, keeping those bins consistently free and clear.
● Provide guidance to your tenants. Remember that some of your tenants may be inexperienced with recycling. Send out flyers, inviting residents to participate in your recycling program, alerting them to where the bins are, and instructing them on what can and what cannot be recycled. Provide signage around the bins, too, repeating your instructions about what to recycle. If you have a large population of residents who don’t speak English as their first language, including bilingual instruction is a must.
● Expound on the benefits. Finally,make sure you communicate with your tenants about the benefits of recycling. Let them know some of the environmental reasons why recycling matters, and also some of the ways in which recycling can make your apartment complex a better place to live. You might be surprised by how many tenants will be willing to recycle once they are given a good, clear reason to do so.
Ultimately,developing a robust recycling program can be highly beneficial, but it’s not something you’ll be able to do on your own. Ensure a strategic partner who can help you develop an efficient, cost-effective recycling program. That’s where WasteXperts comes in.
We’d love to tell you more about the ways in which we can help your apartment complex reduce waste, save money, and promote participation in your recycling program. Contact us at your convenience.
