Q for those of you who live in condos/apartments

smurfette2682

We have lived in our condo for 3 years now, we would love to buy a house, but the market just hasn't recovered enough yet...

we live in a very large complex, with many dumpsters.  Unfortunately there is absolutely NO recycling available.  DH and i bring all of our plastic/glass/metal/paper/etc. to our parents houses (both are less than 20 min. away, and each week we see at least one of them, so there's no extra trips just for that) because they both have curbside recycling pickup.  This works OK for us (of course it would be easier not to have to store it in our apartment, but it's a small price to pay) but really the big problem is that i'm pretty positive that no one else in the community does this. (hundreds of people).

We don't have the easiest board of managers to get a hold of and deal with, but i would love to set up some sort of collection and pick up of recyclables.  Have any of you had any experience and luck with this sort of thing?  I don't know how to go about it! 

BlueMnM

in my state there a sites that explain how you can get free recycling set up in your community, or some type of discount. i cannot remember the specifics. the state wants you to recycle the community just has to ask for it. i would look at the department of public works website.

noonecarewhoiam

Personally, I would attend a board meeting and voice my desires there. OR, I would contact the management company (the folks to whom you pay the assessments) and make my case through them.

 

haislil

One of the main reasons I chose the apartment that we live in now is their commitment to recycling. When we moved in, however, we were told that because of the economy the county had cut recycling for apartments, but not for houses. I'm really disappointed because recycling is something that I feel strongly about, but there is really nothing we can do unless we can sneak our recyclables in with some one who still has recycling pick up. In the meantime, as much as I hate to,  I am just dumping it with the other trash. 

DharmaChick

Our complex does not offer recycling either.  We drive our recyclables over to the transfer station ourselves.  Fortunately it is not too far.  Our complex is owned by a large national company, so while we made a suggestion I am not sure if/how it gets considered. 

hunniapple

I used to live in a highrise condo building and suggested adding recycling. 

 There was a commingled recycle dumpster next to the regular garbage dumpster for a while. 

HOWEVER, they took it away when the very many non-english speaking wouldn't stop using it for regular garbage.  Back to no recycling...

smurfette2682

thanks, you guys have given me some good things to think about.....i'm going to research this a little more, and try to go to a board meeting (they only have open meetings like twice a year, so it's not that easy!)

JoeyOz

Our condo complex doesn't have recycling dumpsters either, but our whole city doesn't have recycling pick-up.  There's a city recycling center (free) where we have to drive our goods and drop them off.  Is it just your complex, or is it a town/city issue?  My parents have curbside pickup and only live 20 minutes away, but they're in a different town that does offer it.

smurfette2682

JoeyOz:

Our condo complex doesn't have recycling dumpsters either, but our whole city doesn't have recycling pick-up.  There's a city recycling center (free) where we have to drive our goods and drop them off.  Is it just your complex, or is it a town/city issue?  My parents have curbside pickup and only live 20 minutes away, but they're in a different town that does offer it.

our town picks up recycling from every house, just not in complexes.  they have a day for plastic/glass/metal, a day for paper, and a day for regular garbage.   it's very frustrating to me because we're taxpayers too, we should be getting this service!