Welcome to our comprehensive guide on taking the trash out within your apartment complex. This guide for your unit is designed to simplify the process of taking out your trash and to ensure that you can responsibly manage your waste disposal. By following these instructions, you can contribute to maintaining a clean living environment for your whole community.
Taking out your trash involves a few simple steps that will be detailed below. Our aim is to help you create a clutter-free living space for you and your roommates. This post provides step-by-step instructions to ensure that you dispose of your trash correctly, adhere to complex rules, and minimize any negative impacts on your surroundings.
If you live in the United States, you are a part of a community that produces a disproportionate amount of waste compared to the rest of the world. According to environmentamerica.org [1], the USA produces over 12% of the world’s trash, and only houses 4% of the world’s population. Our complex asks that you be mindful of your trash output and see what steps you could take to reduce the amount of waste you produce. Some of the best options to limit trash production, according to dumpsters.com [2], are composting and recycling, and both may be available within your apartment complex.
Taking out the trash is a routine task, with most people taking their trash out multiple times a week [3] according to statista.com. Understanding the process and its significance within your apartment complex can lead to a more harmonious living environment. Proper waste disposal has a long history of contributing to cleanliness and the well-being of communities. Our guide builds on this legacy, providing you with the tools to manage trash responsibly.
Instructions
Check with your landlord where the trash gets disposed of.
- Every complex has a different layout. Your lease may have directions on where your dumpsters may be within the complex, but if not, contact your landlord and ask where the disposal point would be.
Collect all trash from the waste bins in your home.
- Common areas for waste bins are the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms among other places.
Sort and combine your refuse into the correct piles.
- Have separate bins for the different types of waste. This is commonly done by separating out your garbage and your recycling.
- Taking the extra trash bags from other rooms in your home and putting them inside larger bags makes transportation easier.
Tie the bags shut to prevent spillage.
Walk or drive to the dumpsters in your complex
- Your apartment complex may have their dumpsters farther away from your apartment than you feel comfortable walking. Piling your trash into your car may be a good alternative.
Place your trash in the correct dumpsters.
- Garbage and recycling will be labeled clearly on the dumpsters themselves. Be careful not to mix them up, and make sure you are looking at which is which prior to throwing your trash away.
Repeat as necessary.
- An irregular trash schedule may mean that your apartment attracts unwanted insects and rodents. This may disturb your neighbors’ way of life, and it is courteous to your neighbors to remove your trash from your home as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I take my trash out?
- Typically, taking the trash out is a weekly task. However, certain circumstances may cause you to take the trash out more often, like living with a higher number of people or throwing something particularly odorous away that is stinking up the apartment. Setting a scheduled day for garbage takeout can help alleviate some of the stress and forgetfulness of certain tenants.
Are there any safety precautions I should take when handling my trash?
- Wear gloves to protect your hands, and be cautious of any sharp or broken objects within your trash during disposal to avoid injury.
Can I leave my trash bags outside of my apartment for pickup?
- Leaving your trash bags outside of your apartment will not result in them being picked up and will be viewed as neglect to care for the unit and disregard for your neighbors.
What are the consequences to disregarding the guidelines for trash disposal?
- Disregarding trash disposal guidelines will result in possible warnings, fines, or other penalties depending on your apartment complex’s policies. Furthermore, your neighbors will undoubtedly be unhappy with you for the smell caused by the garbage.
What do I do with large or bulkier items that don’t fit in a dumpster?
- Once a month, the city of Metropolis has a bulk trash day where they take items that would not normally be able to fit in a garbage truck and dispose of them for you. Check with the city’s calendar or your landlord to see when that day may be.
Can I throw food waste in the regular trash?
- Food waste is acceptable to throw into the garbage, and some complexes may have a compost bin you are able to throw food waste into. Check with your landlord to see if your complex has a compost bin for your waste.
Sources and Electronic Docs
[1] A. Kunst, “Emptying frequency of garbage cans in the U.S. 2017,” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/694938/americans-frequency-of-emptying-trash-cans-in-the-united-states/ (accessed Oct. 10, 2023).
[2] “How much trash does the U.S. really produce?,” How Much Waste Does the U.S. Produce? | Dumpsters.com, https://www.dumpsters.com/blog/us-trash-production (accessed Oct. 10, 2023).
[3] “Trash in America,” Environment America Research & Policy Center, https://environmentamerica.org/center/resources/trash-in-america-2/ (accessed Oct. 10, 2023)