Trying to Save on Multifamily Utilities? Look Into the Trash

Trash and its costs don't jump to mind when property managers think about multifamily utilities. Apartment trash management is generally seen as a “back of house” fixed cost. The dumpsters and recycling bins placed throughout an apartment community are far behind water, gas and electricity when operators look for utility management efficiencies. But apartment trash management costs are high, and often riddled with unnecessary expenses. It’s a burden that puts pressure on operational budgets and ultimately costs residents more to live in a community. An overlooked opportunity to save on multifamily utilities A set-it-and-forget-it mentality in scheduling pickups with waste management companies can be a big culprit. Thousands of dollars in needless expenses can be racked up because pickups are made for containers that aren’t full. The average apartment property wastes big money each year on hauling fees for dumpsters that are only, on average, 46% full. This means a property most likely pays full price for a service that hauls a fraction of the amount negotiated in a contract. That’s just the beginning of cost inefficiencies associated with trash disposal, the forgotten stepchild of multifamily utilities. Contamination of recyclables is also a big issue in parts of the U.S. Mixing trash and other dangerous or hazardous materials with bottles, cans, plastics and other recyclable items, even inadvertently, can result in expensive fines. But all of this can be avoided, thanks to new technology in apartment waste management. Apartment trash service monitoring Trash service monitoring is becoming a game changer, helping multifamily communities save nearly 40% on what they’re paying to have garbage and recyclables hauled away. The technology is taking a page from the management of other utilities, where gas, electric and water are measured to track costs. By understanding the full breadth of trash and recyclables and implementin...