Recycling is important, but first and foremost: Use less whenever possible. Don't think you can't make a difference by recycling... recycling just one aluminum can saves the amount of energy required to run a TV for three hours! Before committing to recycling, here are a few, fun facts that TGM Associates would like to share that will help you understand the value of recycling.

If everyone in the US recycled a mere 1/10 of their newspaper print, 25 million trees could be saved each year. Recycling 1 ton of paper will save 24,000 gallons of water. If every household in the US replaced 1 roll of 1000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100% recyclable rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water.

Recycling in an apartment complex is easy to do. Simply follow these steps:

Easy and fun tips to try when recycling from your apartment:

Most apartments should have a recycling program in conjunction with trash pick-up. If not, you can do one of two things: You can organize a recycling program by getting your neighbor's involved. Or, use cardboard boxes in your apartment to collect recyclables - consider one box for newspapers, another for glass, cans and plastic bottles, and a third for mixed paper (cereal boxes, cardboard, envelopes, white paper, catalogs, etc.). Bring your recyclables to your closest recycling center. (But, don't waste gas! Combine it with a trip you are making anyway.)

TGM Associates is an investment advisory firm with a focus on multifamily properties. TGM acquires, sells and manages apartment properties throughout the U.S. TGM strives to provide the highest level of resident services and quality on-site management as part of a continual commitment to provide residents with a well-maintained apartment community and a comfortable place to live.

Answer by Ryan H
Paint

While the routine behind garbage and recycling collection can certainly be different when youâ??re living in an apartment (compared to living in single-family house), just because youâ??re in a high-rise doesnâ??t mean youâ??re above recycling.

What You Can Recycle

Although the bins might be different sizes and different colours than the ones in single-family homes, the same types of materials can still be recycled when youâ??re living in an apartment building:

·        Plastic containers with a recycling triangle on the bottom, including all bottles, pails, tubs and jugs

·        Aluminum drink cans

·        Tin food cans

·        Milk and juice cartons

·        Juice boxes

·        Glass jars and bottles (clear and coloured)

·        Newspapers and inserts, flyers and junk mail

·        Magazines, phone books, household paper, shredded paper and envelopes

·        Cardboard egg cartons and paper tubes

·        Flattened cardboard (e.g., cereal, cracker, tissue, laundry, shoe and packing boxes)

All apartment buildings should have onsite recycling containers (and some even have dedicated recycling rooms on each floor, for maximum tenant convenience). If youâ??re not sure where the recycling bins in your building are located, check with your building manager.

For proper disposal of special waste such as paint, construction materials, appliances, tires, or old mattresses and furniture, talk to the building manager or superintendent of your building â?? donâ??t just mindlessly throw it away!

Avoid Recycling Bin Contamination

With so many things capable of being recycled, why then is so much of it thrown away? A leading factor in the amount of recyclables that are tossed out with the trash is the contamination of apartment recycling bins â?? and itâ??s an issue that apartment tenants can prevent with just a little bit of effort.

When materials are placed in the wrong recycling bin, nothing can be recycled! The bin is either left behind or the contents must be collected as garbage, as it is too costly and time-consuming to sort through. To avoid this:

·        Donâ??t put your recyclables in plastic bags. These bags cannot be recycled, and as a result, anything placed inside plastic bags cannot be recycled either. As well, donâ??t tie your materials together, as processing facilities cannot remove string or wires.

·        Remember, glass, metal and plastic go into one bin. Paper and cardboard go into the other. Donâ??t put your material into the first recycling bin you see, and donâ??t toss any sort of garbage into the recycling bin!

·        Not everything is recyclable. Items such as hard plastics (cups and dishes), styrofoam packaging, motor oil bottles, aerosol cans, chip bags and candy wrappers, etc. should not be put in the recycling bins.

Get Paid to Recycle

If, for whatever reason, you need a bigger incentive to recycle than helping the environment, howâ??s this â?? recycling can save you money, too! Instead of placing them in your apartment buildingâ??s bins, you can always return your empty wine, beer, and spirit container to The Beer Store for a full deposit refund. This includes glass bottles, bag-in-box, Tetra Pak containers, plastic bottles, and aluminum and steel containers on which deposits have been charged.

Itâ??s clear that as apartment tenants, we need to work extra hard to make sure we recycle everything we can. To this end, the City of Ottawa has made a Recycling and Disposal Guide available to all Ottawa residents living in apartment buildings. It can be downloaded at: http://www.ottawa.ca/city_services/recycling_garbage/apartment/index_en.html.