Apartment recycling could lead to better community spirit
Posted April 24, 2015 12:22 am.
Last Updated August 19, 2015 12:17 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – So much for zero waste for Metro Vancouver. Only a third of tenants living in condos and apartments recycle.
The region is hoping to change that while improving community spirit.
Metro Vancouver has released an online toolkit designed to improve recycling rates in multi-family buildings.
Among other things, the kit encourages tenants who already recycle to band together to form teams.
Peter Cech with Metro Vancouver says their pilot programs have demonstrated that team members inspire each other and that their enthusiasm for recycling becomes contagious.
“They started to get really excited and not only went the extra mile to do a better job of recycling themselves but also reached out to neighbours to ask ‘How can we help you? What information do you need?'”
That teamwork, he says, contributes to a sense of community within the building.
“It creates a sense of purpose, trust and an opportunity to collaborate with other people. This recycling toolkit actually hits all three of these points.”
Landlords and stratas are under pressure to motivate more people to recycle. Starting in July, buildings and households face fines if there is too much food waste in garbage bins.
