If you own or manage an apartment community, you may be frustrated to see people tossing clearly recyclable plastics and other materials into the trash. Recycling is important for the preservation of the planet. However, many people are not going to recycle unless you make it easy for them to do so. Here are some ways you can make it easier for your community residents to recycle.
1. Have a scrap plastic recycling company pick up items weekly.
One of the challenges of recycling plastics, especially, is that bottles need to be taken back to the store — and some are not even accepted! To make this easier on your residents, arrange to have a recycling company come pick up all of the community's plastic items once a week. You can tell residents which day of the week this will happen to ensure they have their scrap plastic in on time. Or, you can go door-to-door the day before the pickup to collect items. (This strategy works best in small communities.)
2. Share articles about the importance of recycling.
Do you have social media accounts that your residents follow? Start posting interesting articles about recycling as you come across them. This will get your residents thinking more about recycling and its importance. With the idea on the forefront of their minds, they'll be more likely to take action.
3. Issue recycling bins.
When a new resident moves in, issue them a bin to put their recyclable items inside. Whether you ultimately take the items to a recycling plant yourself or have a recycling company come pick them up, this still gives people a way to keep their recyclable items separate from garbage. If you don't have the funds to supply all residents with a bin, you could require that they purchase one for a small sum, like $15, when they move in. Add this as a condition on the lease.
4. Include recycling directions in your newsletter.
If you send out a newsletter to your community members, make sure you regularly include directions about recycling in the newsletter. Tell residents which day the pickup service is coming, where they should place their bins, and so forth. As residents get used to checking the newsletter for recycling directions, they will keep doing so.
Finding tons of recyclables in the trash can be frustrating. With the tips above, you'll have an easier time convincing your residents that recycling is worthwhile. For more information, reach out to local scrap plastic recycling services.
