| Over twenty years ago the first curbside | | | | Once property managers have the community |
| recycling program had started around the same | | | | ready for recycling, it is time to educate the |
| time the first boy band made a number one | | | | community about being environmentally friendly. |
| single. Though recycling has grown since the days | | | | Setting up separate recycling cans is not enough. |
| of synchronized dance moves it is amazing how | | | | The community needs to know what is recyclable |
| many rental communities and rental properties still | | | | and what is not. Property managers can conduct |
| do not have a recycling program. Recycling is a | | | | a meeting and educate the community about |
| series of activities that includes collecting | | | | recycling. Property managers should not only go |
| recyclable materials that would otherwise be | | | | over what is recyclable, but also teach the |
| considered waste, sorting them for local pickup so | | | | importance of recycling. The community will not |
| they can be reused or made into new products. | | | | only be followers, but become environmental |
| And unlike boy bands, recycling is not a fad or the | | | | activists. Property managers should also post signs |
| latest trend. It is the property managers | | | | around the community about the new changes to |
| responsibility for getting everyone in the rental | | | | the trash system so no one is left out. |
| community involved in a recycling program. | | | | After the recycling program gets underway, |
| Recycling should be everybodys responsibility, but | | | | property managers should track the communitys |
| in rental properties, property managers need to | | | | progress. One way to see who is out of synch is |
| implement a recycling system that everyone can | | | | to implement contests. If property managers |
| take part in. If renters do not have the resources | | | | gave out incentives to residents who come up |
| at the rental property to recycle, then what | | | | with the best green plan, more people will get |
| choice do they have except to not recycle? | | | | involved and soon everybody will be in rhythm. |
| The first thing property managers need to do is | | | | Property managers also need to set an example |
| set up a recycling waste program at the rental | | | | and boast about their recycling contributions. They |
| property. Since most rental properties have a | | | | can revise purchasing specifications to allow |
| shared trash area, property managers need to be | | | | greater purchase of recycled-content materials, |
| the front man who leads the community to a | | | | and purchase at least one new product with |
| greener lifestyle. The trash area should have | | | | recycled content each year, starting with office |
| more than just one dumpster for everything so | | | | supplies. Property managers also should convert |
| not everything ends up on the landfill. Property | | | | to a paperless rent bill and an epayment system. |
| managers need to learn what is recyclable and | | | | All of these accomplishments should be posted in |
| how it should be recycled. For example, property | | | | a common area bulletin board where everybody |
| managers need to have a recycle container for | | | | in the community will be able to read it. |
| glass, plastics and metal containers and another | | | | Recycling is not just the normal everyday trash. |
| one for paper and cardboard. Property managers | | | | Recycling also involves clothing. If property |
| can take it a step further and have a recycling | | | | managers set up a clothing bin in an indoor |
| container for batteries and ink cartridges. If | | | | common area, tenants can toss their unwanted |
| recycling containers are provided for the | | | | clothes in there for good use instead of tossing it |
| community, then the community will become | | | | out like an old boy band tape into the trash can. |
| more environmental conscious. | | | | |