Recycling, valet trash, dumpsters, and garbage chutes. There are many ways to get rid of waste at your apartment — but what kind of waste belongs where? Learn the do’s and don’ts of throwing away your garbage when living in an apartment! What doesn’t belong in valet trash: loose trash, single-bagged pet waste, trash bags not approved by your apartment’s valet compliance guide. Valet trash is
an amenity built into your rent expense that allows you to set your provided garbage bin outside for valet trash pickup. Apartments with valet trash will transport your waste to the facility dumpsters or off-site, affording you less hassle, more cleanliness, and less interaction with your apartment dumpster. Valet trash is the perfect solution for general household waste, especially any potent food scraps that could make your apartment smell over time. Each apartment will provide a
compliance guide if there are special requirements for trash bags or timelines. What doesn’t belong in recycling: paper plates, plastic silverware, food containers, plastic bags, any packaging with signs of oil, paint, fuel, poisons, or medical waste. Recycling is an elective amenity for apartment complexes and can be in the form of a recycling dumpster or valet recycling. Depending on your apartment’s compliance standards, you might need to separate your
recycling into plastic, paper, metal, and glass. Remember to only recycle packaging without soils and stains — like pizza oil — on it. Also, be sure to remove caps and lids from all plastic recyclables! Does your apartment not recycle? To start a recycling program, try creating a petition for a more environmentally conscious community. What
doesn’t belong in a trash compactor: hangers, cardboard, newspapers, used diapers, open cans of paint, large linens such as comforters or blankets, pillows, kitty litter, strand lights, aerosol cans, Christmas trees, and hot coals. Garbage chutes lead to trash compactors built into your apartment complex. It’s important to remember that any loose trash risks jamming the gears of a compactor or getting lodged in the garbage chute itself. Remember to properly bag your trash and refrain
from overfilling it. This can help prevent your garbage from getting stuck in the chute or tearing before it falls into the compactor. What doesn’t belong in a dumpster: adhesives, soil, cleaning fluids, medical waste, propane or fuels, non-alkaline batteries, paint, and tires. Dumpsters allow you to control more about your waste management preferences. Overfilled garbage bags? Food scraps that need to find their way out of your apartment ASAP? Dirty
diapers or kitty litter clean-up? Get them out on your schedule and into the safety of your community dumpster. If your apartment has specific timelines for trash disposal or additional tenant dumpster rules, they’ll be posted on or near the dumpster and clearly outlined in your lease. Each waste management system has its own list of specific no-go items, but did you know some
things are illegal to throw away regardless of the trash system? These items include tires, electronics, and motor oil. Cities and municipalities will have information available online for how to take your garbage straight to the landfill to avoid any issues with your waste management system — or your landlord. Dealing with trash and recycling can be a major pain as a renter. Find an
apartment community with waste amenities that meet your needs with ApartmentSearch! Browse apartment communities and filter by amenities, size, rent costs, and more. Start your apartment search today!Valet Trash
Recycling
Garbage Chutes
Dumpsters
Completely Illegal Trash Items
Hey all,
Our properties have trash and dumpster overflow issues. They receive trash pick-up twice per week, and seem to have plenty of dumpsters onsite. Our average trash dump is 6yd.
The main issues are:
1). Some residents just throw their trash bags/items at the dumpster, missing the actual dumpster so we have items on and around the dumpster rather than inside of it.
2). Outside individuals drive in and sometimes dump their trash into the dumpsters, making them overflow.
Does anybody have any ideas as to how we can prevent this from happening?
Thanks!
Posted 2 years 3 weeks ago
We have daily valet and property is still covered in trash on a daily basis. I wish someone would give me some pointers too bc I don’t get it.
Posted 2 years 3 weeks ago
1. Notify your tenants all trash must be placed in a trash bag and must be disposed of in trash dumpster.
2. Contact trash service company and get a locking bar for your trash dumpster. Weld a chain onto dumpster and install a combination lock (weld lock to chain) so only people with code may access - give code to your tenants (get code from trash service company).
3. Get a camera to monitor the trash area and let tenants know they will be charged for cleaning and hauling regarding trash not disposed of in dumpster or any bulk items left in trash area.
Good luck!
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
We used to have that issue at a previous property I managed. The issue was addressed in the monthly newsletter stating that any garbage found outside the dumpster or on the grounds with the address of a resident on it, the resident would be fined $xxx per incident and a lease violation letter would be written for non-compliance of the lease. Residents and staff talked about other solutions during the monthly Community Watch meeting and "No Dumping-Violators prosecuted Signs" were placed on the fence around the dumpster for those who did not live on the property. After a few letters were written and followed up on, Residents started taking pride in their community and actually started getting involved by even helping Maintenance with his daily trash pickup of the common area so he wouldn't have to do it all by himself. It does take a little time to change poor habits, but good communication, respect and relationships go a long way in achieving any goal.
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
Most localities have illegal dumping fines and penalties with possible jail time. I would post signs about that with the fine by your dumpsters. I would also fine residents who's trash is not put in the dumpster. You may want to resort to an 8 yard dumpster or go to a 3 times per week pick up. If you really need it then you should do it.
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
Thank you all for your feedback. I appreciate the insights.
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
We've had to make sure the dumpsters have lids and at some sites they even have a bar across the top so that you can only open them up so far. This will prevent some dumping but not much, because they just leave it near the dumpster. We have been getting hit with overage charges $$$$$ massive amounts of money we are having to pay. I think the trash companies are gaining money due to COVID19 because we have exceeded our budgets at several sites since back in June already at 30-50% over budget. It's time for a trash study.
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
Most trash bags have mail of some type in them. Open the bag and bill the residents at fault. Start with $25 and go higher if needed. We do $25 per bag/box and $75 per large furniture item. The fee is not to make money but to save money by maintenance saving 2h a week on trash. You won't catch them all but it will greatly reduce it.
We also have a "move out" email that is triggered around 30 days from move out going over dumpster rules.
We use .3-.4 cubic yards of dumpster space per unit each week too
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
I manage a multi-family "low" income community and we also had these issues and sometimes still do. We installed security cameras a 5 years ago so when we see this we go back on the cameras. We give one warning, then it is a lease violation plus whatever fee the h haulers charge us to clean it up.
We also had "strangers" dumping as well. We pulled out the bags and looked for mail....we
have always been able to ID them and we send them letters telling them that we have the trash and we have them on camera. If they do it again we are pressing charges. That always works.
Posted 2 years 2 weeks ago
The dumpsters are too high for most women to lift, especially for those with disabilities, so a lock will NOT work. We'd only be able to leave our garbage outside of the receptacle. They have video but it has not helped. I never thought in my entire life that my fight would be about taking out the garbage. It is hopeless.
Posted 6 months 2 weeks ago
Why should a resident be charged for dumping their garbage in garbage bags? That makes no sense. The problem is people dumping furniture, and non residents pulling up with trucks and filling the dumpsters.
Posted 6 months 2 weeks ago
Hi everybody. I know sort of late, but I ran across this and thought I’d share my input. I run a junk removal service is Northeast Ohio. I’m also a landlord unfortunately. Lol. There are a few reasons we see apartments dealing with dumpster overflow issues.
- Tenants
aren’t following the rules.
Obviously if tenants are putting things out there when they aren’t supposed to, you need to address your tenants. Send every resident a letter notifying them of the policy, and maybe even introduce violation fees. - Neighboring Residents are using your dumpster.
To limit this, make sure that you have a lock on your dumpster, and put a sign out that tells people they could be fined or arrested. (Check with local PD first) - Your trash company isn’t picking up the dumpster on time.
This is actually quite common. If this is the case, consider finding a new company. - There are too many residents, too little garbage collection days.
Garbage collection isn’t cheap. It’s understandable that landlords don’t want to pay extra to have more pickups, but this might be an option.
There are a couple other options that can help resolve this. First, you can hire a junk removal company to clean up the dumpster overflow. Make sure that they offer dumpster overflow cleanup when you call. Some services don’t offer it.
Another good option would be to install security cameras that cover the dumpster area. This should help you find the root of the problem.
Hope this helps.
Josh
Posted 6 months 1 week ago