Ins and Outs of Multifamily Unit Recycling
Because it’s easy to be anonymous in high-rise buildings, it’s hard to tell who’s not following the rules when it comes to recycling.
As municipalities double down to boost their recycling numbers, they meet challenges unique to multifamily building communities. Prevalent cultural diversity calls for communicating expectations in different languages. A transient population means education must be ongoing. And because it’s easy to be anonymous, especially in high-rise buildings, it’s hard to tell who’s not following the rules.
But overall, most residents want recycling—at least that’s what AMLI Residential, a national multifamily property developer, learned.
“Sustainability is a bigger demand than ever, and we found that 83 percent of our residents recycle,” says Erin Hatcher, vice president of sustainability for AMLI Residential.
It takes thought and planning to make it work. That’s why the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) came to be in 1989. MSWAB works with the City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY), other city officials and recycling businesses to improve recovery practices and results.
But even 30 years after recycling became mandatory in New York City, the recycling rate is 20 percent, “and it’s hard to get further in a densely populated area with so many apartments, especially a lot of high-rises,” says Jacquelyn Ottman, chairman of MSWAB.
MSWAB has learned some ins and outs. For one, if their neighbors are recycling, people will usually follow suit, even if they don’t own their properties (renters are sometimes less motivated).