A Primer on Recycling for Apartment Complexes and Condominiums

We can all agree that recycling is a valuable thing you can do for your community and the environment. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start when it comes to the specifics of recycling requirements, what counts as a safely recyclable material, and how to prepare your waste to be recycled. What follows is a primer on the best ways to handle

apartment recycling, which can also help you to benefit as much as possible from our recycling and waste management program.

Steps for preparing your recycling

While ZipEco sorts your recyclables for you, meaning you don’t have to organize them by type, a few things need to be done before you put your waste in the recycling receptacle! You should rinse or empty all food remnants from the things you mean to recycle, to ensure they’re clean. You should also flatten down any cardboard, as cardboard needs to be broken down to be recycled.

What can be recycled

Flattened cardboard boxes, tin or aluminum cans, milk cartons and jugs, plastic water bottles, junk mail, scrap paper, newspaper, clean food jars and clean glass bottles are all excellent examples of common recyclables. Most plastic, paper, metal, and glass items can be recycled, provided they are empty, clean, and dry. You can see a recyclable symbol on most plastic and glass items to indicate whether or not they can be recycled. A good general rule for what can be recycled is clean paper, plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars, cardboard, metal cans like those from sodas.

What can’t be recycled

Some forms of waste material can’t be recycled. Those include food waste, medications, chemicals, batteries, lightbulbs, food-soaked paper or containers, condiment packets, and bottle caps. You also shouldn’t place any sharp or heavy objects in the recycling receptacle, such as cookware, broken pottery or glass, or auto parts.

Encourage your neighbors to join in

Another thing you can do to get prepared for apartment recycling, whatever system you’re using, is encourage your community to take part! Properly cleaning your recyclables, and knowing what should be put in recycling versus trash are all valuable groundwork to make sure as much of your recyclables as possible can actually be broken down and reused, and helping your neighbors to participate ensures the biggest possible environmental impact for your community!

Good luck, and happy recycling!

A Primer on Recycling for Apartment Complexes and Condominiums (Reference search samples)
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