Multifamily property owners and building managers quite literally “manage” a lot when it comes to owning and operating multiple-occupancy dwellings (e.g., apartment buildings, 55-plus communities, condominiums, student housing and other residences). If this describes your situation, you know that your oversight is also key to the success of many operations across your properties, including the experiences of all who reside there. However, there’s one messier element of your day-to-day operations where you can lean on a partner as an extension of your team to do the heavy lifting (or should we say hauling) for you—waste management and recycling.

Let’s explore a few of the key benefits of partnering with a managed waste service provider to help take you out of the trash business, so you can focus on other key priorities.

By the numbers (and the seasons)

A 2001 Environmental Protection Agency study of 40 multifamily dwellings (MFDs) found that recycling was a challenge for many residents of MFD communities and that waste diversion rates tended to be lower when compared to single-family homes. Fast-forward to today and many of those same challenges and low diversion rates still exist. A report released in January 2024 from The Recycling Partnership, a non-governmental organization committed to building a better recycling system, observed that “not enough households have recycling services and of those that do, communication about how to recycle is insufficient.” More specifically, among the key findings, only 37% of multifamily homes were identified as having recycling access.

However, there are solutions to help close that gap, and a straightforward place to start is with a waste audit of your properties. An audit can help you understand your waste streams, including how much waste and recycling each location is generating on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, so you can develop a cohesive plan across your operations. Having that data at your fingertips will also inform your managed waste service partner on which types of equipment to put in place and indicate a pickup schedule cadence that will best suit you and your residents’ needs.

Certain customizations can then be considered to modify or enhance your waste and recycling program. A great example is cardboard recycling. Hypothetically, estimate the number of Amazon packages that a resident may have delivered per day, per week or per month and then multiply that by total residents in each building—that’s a lot of packages, and that cardboard will need to go somewhere. But if you have a robust cardboard recycling program in place with a managed waste services provider, the proper steps can be put in place to ensure that material is diverted properly on a regular basis.

It’s important to keep in mind that seasonality will always play a key factor when managing multifamily units, as well. Typically, the beginning and end of each month are when properties tend to see larger swings or turnover in occupancy rates as tenants come and go. Other observances throughout the year may also lead to an influx or decrease of waste and recycling materials, such as packing material and cardboard around the holidays or increased organic food waste when hosting family members for gatherings or long periods of time.

Data-driven decision making

The good news is that this wealth of information and data can be tracked and optimized throughout the year with the proper technology at your disposal. Smart bin monitoring technology can be added to waste and recycling equipment to track volume and more in a real-time dashboard and through an accessible client portal.

Once the data is collected, a managed waste partner can then help you spot certain trends and recommend customizations to streamline your program in several ways, including scaling up or down on your equipment, limiting or increasing your pickup schedule, and optimizing your waste and recycling budget to help you make informed decisions about your program spend that will ultimately impact rental rates and negotiations at your properties year over year. Reviewing overall trends and spend in within your portal on a consistent basis will be a collaborative process wherein your managed waste services partner will streamline your program in a cost-effective way.

Consistency in compliance and communication

If your portfolio spans multiple geographical footprints or states, staying one step ahead of compliance and regulations can be a challenge. Let your managed waste service partner do that legwork for you, as well. They’ll stay ahead of the curve on the regulations and requirements pertinent to the waste and recycling world so you can focus your energy on staying ahead in other areas of your business.

Last, but certainly not least, ensure your programs remain efficient and sustainable by encouraging good waste and recycling behaviors among your residents with consistent communication. Clearly label all equipment and place signage near that equipment or in high-traffic areas where residents will see and acknowledge the information. Regularly update residents on any changes to waste and recycling programs, including adjustments to pickup schedules, rules for what materials are accepted, and where bins or compactors are located around the property for convenience. When welcoming new tenants, incorporate all the information they need to know in a welcome packet and then keep them and longstanding residents up to date through other electronic communication channels should changes arise. Should you have a desire for your properties to be eco-friendly or earth smart, make that a prevalent part of your waste and recycling model and work with your managed waste service partner to develop a toolkit, checklist or educational program that positions and reinforces sustainability as a core feature and selling point of your business.

Whether you manage one multifamily property or 10, let us help tackle your trash so you can put your residents first, and consider contacting our team to connect with a multifamily waste and recycling specialist.