When it comes to choosing an apartment, it’s important to consider everything from the appearance of the property to waste management. Finding an apartment with a good waste management and recycling program is pertinent and can be the ultimate decision maker when choosing between multiple rental properties. 

Following are some waste management and recycling tips that you should keep in mind when trying to find a new rental property. 

Pet Waste Disposal Areas

It may not be on the top of your list, but if you are looking for pet-friendly housing, you may want to consider asking your landlord for pet waste disposal areas around the property. Having to walk to a dumpster on the other side of the building to throw away your pet’s waste is time consuming, and let’s face it, you could have a neighbor who decides to leave their pet’s waste on the lawn right next to your apartment instead of walking it to the dumpster.

It is also important to find a rental property with a landlord who offers the amenities you want and need. According to Smart Move, one of the best ways to keep quality tenants is to “know what amenities tenants want.” Many tenants want to live with their furry friend, so if you have a pet or plan to get one  in the future, having pet-based amenities will be on your list of wants when searching for a new place to live. 

Ask for a Recycling Program 

A recycling program can help you beautify any property, reduce its carbon footprint, and save money on waste. Search for a rental property that prioritizes being green and it is likely that your neighbors are also environmentally conscious. 

There are many available waste management and recycling companies that can work with rental properties, so ask your landlord to provide waste-specific bins for your property. This will help encourage other tenants to sort through their waste and practice being more eco-friendly.

Expand Waste Disposal Areas

If you take a tour of your property and see that dumpsters are filling up well before trash pick-up day, you may want to consider asking your landlord to expand their waste areas. Landlords can easily do this by adding to the number of dumpsters available for tenants or increasing the frequency of pickups. 

It’s also important to have easy access to disposal stations throughout the property so that you’re always able to access a bin when necessary. 

Communicate With Your Landlord

If you’re finding trash on the ground next to the  bins or on the lawns beside the apartments, make sure to communicate that with your landlord. Your landlord can reach out to tenants who are leaving trash around or not following the rental property’s protocols to ensure they are disposing of trash correctly. Some rental properties might even outline these protocols in their lease agreements so that they have a signed written copy of the rules. If there are no rules in place,  you can ask your landlord to implement them. Important guidelines could include prohibiting storing trash outside of apartment homes or putting  trash on the side of the dumpster instead of in it. 

It’s important to ask your landlord what is appropriate for both move-in day and move out day, as the process of moving could potentially include larger items being thrown into the garbage. You want to make sure you’re following the right protocols in respect of your neighbors.

Ask About How They Dispose of Large Items 

When moving out of a rental, make sure that larger items, such as mattresses and furniture are picked up and taken off the property. Scheduling an on-call pick up for larger items ensures that trash won’t be taking up space in hallways or entranceways. 

If you are a potential tenant touring the property and see large trash items being left in common spaces, it could be a red flag for what is to come and a potential reason not to rent that particular place. 

How Does the Property Prepare for the Holidays?

People typically generate more trash during the holidays because of the large amount of gatherings, parties and gift giving during those seasons. Excess wrapping paper and food waste can result in the dumpsters being overfilled, so it’s important to make sure your landlord prepares for seasonal issues. Ask your landlord to schedule more pick-up times during the holidays to avoid issues with dumpster overflow. 

You should also be prepared for waste collection delays during the winter. If your dumpsters are beginning to fill up a few days before collection, check if your landlord can schedule one beforehand to avoid potential delays that can cause overflow. 

Do They Offer Indoor Receptacles?

If your apartment or the apartment you are considering has an entrance inside the building rather than front doors that access the outside, make sure your landlord provides  indoor receptacles such as garbage cans and waste chutes that allow you to conveniently take care of your trash. 

If your landlord doesn’t provide a way for tenants to get rid of trash inside and everyone must travel down multiple hallways and steps to get outside to a dumpster, there’s a chance that some tenants may leave their trash outside of their door. This can cause trash to build up in hallways, making an apartment go from fab to drab. Plus, no one wants to smell trash, which can even be a potential health hazard. You want to live in a pristine rental property that takes care of its tenants, and having a smelly/dirty hallway is less than appealing. 

Is Waste Management in the Lease?

No matter what, make sure to ask your landlord how he/she handles waste management before signing a lease. If possible, ask for the protocols to be clearly outlined in the lease. Consider asking the following questions:

  • When is trash pick-up day?
  • Do you have recycling options?
  • What is appropriate for move-in or move-out day?
  • What if another tenant is not following protocol?
  • What about holidays when there is more trash that needs to be picked up?
  • Do you offer pet waste disposal areas?
  • How many waste disposal areas are there around the property?

Before moving into any apartment, you want to understand how the community around you goes about disposing of their trash. A clean looking apartment will always attract more quality tenants than those that look messy and run down. Asking your current or future landlord to outline trash protocols in the lease agreement is necessary when looking to live in a clean community.

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music.