Throughout five years and five different apartment complexes, I have only encountered one with a recycling bin. It’s safe to say I move way too often.
In my experience, it’s surprising how few apartment complexes offer any kind of recycling program. Even after touring multiple complexes, finding one with a recycling program is rare.
Some complexes cite cost as the reason for not having recycling bins, while others believe their residents aren’t interested. My current complex does have a bin, but unfortunately, I often see people throwing trash bags into it despite the clear recycling logo on the side. The Recycling Partnership suggests that cities support apartment-dwelling households by encouraging landlords to provide recycling services through policies that make blue bins available in multifamily buildings.
“Focusing on multifamily recycling is especially important as we make a purposeful effort to improve equity in residential recycling,” said Craig Wittig, Director of Community Programs at the Recycling Partnership in an August 2021 report. The organization has published a toolkit with information for implementing recycling programs in apartment buildings and other multifamily living arrangements.
Recycling in an apartment may seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are four steps my family has taken to start recycling in our apartment, and you can apply these steps in your life as well.
1. Start With the Easy Stuff
Begin by focusing on materials that are easy to recycle and can be dropped off locally. This includes items like plastic water bottles, milk jugs, cardboard, aluminum cans, newspapers, and more.
Check if your city has a recycling location that accepts these materials, and keep your list short to make drop-off easier.
2. Find Drop-Off Locations Near You
Ask your apartment complex if they have a hidden recycling bin or know of local drop-off locations. You can also use resources like Earth911 Recycling Search to find nearby drop-off locations.
If Earth911 doesn’t provide results, check your city’s website for recycling information.
3. Pick a Spot for Your Bin
Find a convenient and visible spot in your apartment for the recycling bin to remind you to recycle. Accessibility and visibility are key in ensuring you remember to recycle.
4. Encourage Neighbors to Participate
Talk to your apartment complex management about recycling and ask them to inform other residents about recycling options. Encourage your neighbors to recycle by sharing information and setting up a system for drop-off.
As you promote recycling in your community, you’ll contribute to increasing recycling options in the area, as studies have shown that communities that value recycling offer more recycling programs.
Editor’s note: Originally published on May 2, 2017, this article was updated in July 2024.
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