Tenants not throwing garbage away properly
Renting isn’t quite the same here in Australia as it is in the U.S. but we had the same problem in my building. The local council provides bins with different coloured lids for recycling: red for paper products, and yellow for glass, plastic, etc. They have recently changed this to just yellow-topped bins into which all accepted items can be placed together. The council then sort it at their recycling plant.
Some time ago, when the red and yellow bins were still in use, because residents weren’t putting items into the correct bins, or were putting normal rubbish in recycling bins, the council removed our bins completely. I don’t know about other residents, but I now put my recycling items into neighbours’ yellow bins, because I hate throwing glass etc. into the normal rubbish.
It appears that people not doing the right thing regarding recycling is a global issue. Our council has produced a very helpful booklet containing information about what can and can’t be recycled, as well as outlining the schedule for pick-ups every 2 weeks based on location. It’s not an easy tas k convincing people to recycle responsibly, but I would just suggest that a conciliatory and collaborative approach be used instead of any negative action that will often result in an antagonistic response. Keeping actions positive, and showing by example, will work best in my opinion. Many people hate being told what to do, especially if they’re being shamed at the same time. Even though there may be a few who won’t convert, demonstrating that most people are willing to get on board may well eventually help sway the dissenters without the need to resort to further action. Monkey see, monkey do. Good luck!
Guest User | 6 years and 8 months ago
5
Please log in, in order to post replies!
5 replies
mjkelly
in General Discussion 6 years and 8 months ago
Currently I am forced to sort through the garbage at my investment property. Any way I can better enforce the correct way to dispose the garbage? I posted signs/stickers on the garbage tins.
kevrob | 6 years and 8 months ago
You need a sanitation rider in your leases. Then if rules aren’t followed and you can fine residents, and if you’re ticketed and can prove who’s improperly disposing, you can charge them for the ticket.
And if you know who it is, don’t renew their lease.
resident2 | 6 years and 8 months ago
As a Landlord you are supposed to outline the rules & regulations of recycling for the tenants. I write it in the rider to their initial vacancy lease along with the NYC Sanitation Dept web site and stress that it is NOT the supers or landlords employees job to go through tenants garbage to recycle etc etc.
The first time a tenant screws up, I write a stern letter informing them that this is not acceptable. The second time; I have the super take all their offending garbage & put it outside their entrance door with a clear notice on the door for all the neighbors to see that they have not properly recycled this garbage……. They rarely do it again, I have enough good tenants that are proud of their building that put pressure on the runts. Even in Rent Stabilized buildings this works.
If it is not rent stabilized then you obviously do not renew their lease.
yudashasom | 6 years and 8 months ago
The problem isn’t the tenants, it’s you. Stay more on top of these types of things. One tenants sees another tenant put out whole cardboard boxes, the rest will do it too. Get cameras and pass along the violation.
Guest User | 6 years and 8 months ago
Renting isn’t quite the same here in Australia as it is in the U.S. but we had the same problem in my building. The local council provides bins with different coloured lids for recycling: red for paper products, and yellow for glass, plastic, etc. They have recently changed this to just yellow-topped bins into which all accepted items can be placed together. The council then sort it at their recycling plant.
Some time ago, when the red and yellow bins were still in use, because residents weren’t putting items into the correct bins, or were putting normal rubbish in recycling bins, the council removed our bins completely. I don’t know about other residents, but I now put my recycling items into neighbours’ yellow bins, because I hate throwing glass etc. into the normal rubbish.
It appears that people not doing the right thing regarding recycling is a global issue. Our council has produced a very helpful booklet containing information about what can and can’t be recycled, as well as outlining the schedule for pick-ups every 2 weeks based on location. It’s not an easy tas k convincing people to recycle responsibly, but I would just suggest that a conciliatory and collaborative approach be used instead of any negative action that will often result in an antagonistic response. Keeping actions positive, and showing by example, will work best in my opinion. Many people hate being told what to do, especially if they’re being shamed at the same time. Even though there may be a few who won’t convert, demonstrating that most people are willing to get on board may well eventually help sway the dissenters without the need to resort to further action. Monkey see, monkey do. Good luck!