Residential recycling programs

This is not something that has popped up on my radar because none of my markets have new recycling programs. The write up from Multi-Housing News doesn’t provide much information, but a quick Google search was able to find these additional resources:

Tailoring Recycling Programs to Reach Diverse Populations
(California Integrated Waste Management Board)

Setting up a Multi-Family or Apartment Building Recycling Program (document file from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection)

Recycling Program for Apartment Buildings
(Cooperator)

Recycling: Multi-family Properties and Recycling for Apartments and Condominiums (28-page guide from Arlington County, Virginia)

New York City’s Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (nyc.gov)

Talking Trash: Launch a Multifamily Recycling Program
(Multifamily Executive)

Panelists Explain How to Properly Run a First-Class Recycling Program (Multi-Housing News)

Multifamily projects typically have a difficult time promoting recycling because of resident turnover (inconsistent resident education), inconvenience (inadequate space within the unit or the building), resident anonymity and incomplete participation, and inability of cities to provide public recycling haulage. There are some very good pointers in these links that discuss how to reach diverse populations, identify areas of probable success, and how to education on-site staff.

Befitting its industry focus, the article from MFE identifies the costs for a company like Post.

“Post pays the waste removal company Conex Recycling a $150 flat-rate fee per property per month. Regardless of the size of the property, that service fee covers pickup and disposal of the recyclables, as well as labor and tipping fees. Post saves an estimated $100 per ton recycled, or about $120,000 a year on landfill costs, explains Shannon Sibbitt, the development director of Atlanta-based Conex.”

(Via Multi-Housing News.)