How to Lower Your Apartment Complex Waste Bill

by Global Trash Solutions

Are you looking to lower an apartment complex waste disposal bill or reduce the costs of waste management across multiple locations?

Apartment waste management can be a significant expense, but with a few strategic adjustments, you can reduce these costs. By optimizing waste processes, educating tenants, and using the right equipment, property managers can see long-term savings and improved tenant satisfaction. Simple changes like implementing a robust recycling program, scheduling pickups more efficiently, or conducting regular waste audits can make a big difference in both cost efficiency and sustainability.

Many high-rise apartment buildings and multi-unit residential properties rely on multiple dumpsters for waste collection. However, property managers can often reduce their waste disposal bills by installing a trash compactor, which consolidates waste and reduces the number of required pickups. For instance, a complex that requires three weekly dumpster pickups may only need one with a compactor, saving money and using less space for apartment trash handling and storage.

Handling Waste Management in Apartment Complexes

Single-family residences and buildings with fewer than five units do not face the same challenges as large apartment complexes and high-rise condos. Each unit in your building adds to the volume of solid waste and recyclables that are generated at your location. Some of the ways to effectively manage this volume of trash include:

Expand Trash Disposal Systems

Your tenants are more likely to use the proper disposal methods and equipment if these are easily accessible. If there is an apartment trash chute, recycling bin or self-contained trash compactor can nearby, your residents are less likely to dispose of items improperly.

Educate Tenants

Educating your tenants about proper waste disposal practices can lead to significant cost savings. Clear communication on how to use recycling bins, trash chutes, and compactors reduces contamination and overflow issues.

Consider posting signs near apartment garbage areas or sending regular email reminders outlining best practices. Hosting occasional tenant meetings or workshops about recycling and waste reduction could also foster a community of conscientious waste handlers, further minimizing costs and improving efficiency in your waste management system.

Install a Chute-Fed Trash Compactor

If your apartment complex is multi-level, installing a chute system with a trash compactor below is a very effective way to route apartment garbage through the building. Not only do your residents not have to ride elevators or go down the stairs carrying trash bags, but everything is routed to a powerful unit that dramatically reduces the volume of trash your complex produces.

Make Recycling Easier for Residents

Cardboard, glass, and plastic can and should be removed from the waste stream, but unless these items are kept free of contamination, your recycling program might not be generating usable materials with market value. Installing a recycling baler and chute systems for recycling collection can take your complex recycling program to the next level and further reduce your collection service costs.

Make Sure the Equipment Is Right for Your Complex’s Needs

Cram-A-Lot Chute-Fed Apartment Trash Compactor

Having the correct waste equipment tailored to your complex’s needs is essential for managing costs and optimizing space. Ensure your trash compactors, recycling bins, and dumpsters are properly sized for the amount of waste your complex generates.

Overloaded bins lead to extra pickups and increased expenses, while underutilized equipment can be a waste of resources. Consult with a waste management expert to ensure your facility has the right equipment that meets your current needs and leaves room for scalability.

Create a Plan for Large Disposable Items

Rental apartments and condos will inevitably generate some large items that cannot go down a trash chute or fit in an apartment dumpster. Apartment waste removal for refrigerators, furniture, and other large items piled next to the dumpsters can generate fines and overage charges from your trash hauler. Since most moves happen around the first of the month, plan for pickup of large items once monthly or provide your renters with this service through your maintenance team.

Prevent Unauthorized Dumping

Your apartment complex might be paying for the disposal of extra trash that it did not generate. This can happen when apartment dumpsters are located outside and left unlocked, or if there is no security around your disposal areas. Using a trash compactor will help identify unauthorized dumping while cameras and keycard locks on your trash area can prevent you from paying for trash hauling and handling for your entire neighborhood.

Address Seasonal Changes

If only your residents would produce the same amount and type of waste all year long, at a steady rate, so that you could manage the flow efficiently and schedule recurring pickups which are always well-timed. As a property manager or building owner, you know this is not the case.

During the winter months, holidays and indoor parties can dramatically increase both solid waste and recycling volumes. During the summer, insects and pests can become a problem in trash storage areas. Talking to a waste management consultant can help you recognize and plan for seasonal trends.

Consistently Review Waste Processes

Regularly assessing your apartment waste management system is crucial to ensuring you’re operating efficiently and minimizing costs. Evaluate the volume of waste your complex generates and the frequency of pickups to identify areas for improvement. Are dumpsters overflowing? Is trash sitting for too long between collections?

Adjusting your service levels or equipment, such as adding a trash compactor, can lower costs and streamline your apartment waste management system. A periodic review can also help you catch unauthorized dumping, seasonal shifts in waste volume, and opportunities for recycling improvements.

Utilize Data Monitoring

Utilizing data to monitor your waste processes is a powerful tool in managing costs effectively. Waste management consultants can install systems that track the weight and volume of trash generated, helping you make data-driven decisions about pickup frequency and equipment needs.

This approach not only optimizes the waste collection process but also provides insights into waste trends, allowing you to address inefficiencies and lower overall costs. Accurate data can also help with long-term planning and budgeting for waste management.

Lowering Large Facility and Apartment Waste Removal Costs

These are all good reasons to start searching for a “trash compactor near me,” but there is a better way to find out the best waste management strategies for your apartment complex, rental properties, or any commercial enterprise that generates waste. With a no-cost consultation from Global Trash Solutions, your business can lower costs and further your green waste initiatives.

Our waste consultants can analyze your needs and recommend the best equipment and processes to lower your waste management costs while improving your tenant satisfaction. GTS waste brokers will network and negotiate to find you the best price for your waste management contracts. We also offer financing and rental of commercial trash compactors and recycling balers.

We have helped commercial plazas, shopping malls, hotels, high-rise apartments, restaurant chains, and industrial facilities rise above their waste management challenges. Browse our line of chute-fed and stand-alone apartment trash compactors, and then reach out to us to partner with industry experts to reduce your waste management costs and realize all the benefits of modern waste solutions.

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