Why Act?

Apartment and condo residents in Arlington recycle at a rate of only 12.5% even though 93% of multi-family properties offer recycling programs! Thirty percent of curbside customers do not recycle on a given collection day. Thirty-five percent of bottles and cans and 50% of recyclable paper used by curbside customers never make it to the recycling bin. Recycling prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, saves energy, creates jobs, and conserves resources for our children’s future! Here are some examples:

• Manufacturing cans from recycled aluminum instead of raw materials uses 95% less energy and reduces air and water pollution by 96%.
• Recycling 35% of U.S. trash reduces global warming emissions equal to taking 36 million cars off the road.
• Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management industry and adds $250 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
• Recycling is cheaper for Arlington than trash - up to 45% comparing collection and disposal costs per ton.

Action Steps

Residents Living in Apartments and Condominiums

1. Ask property management staff about their recycling program for your community and where recycling containers are located. It’s the law that Arlington property owners/managers provide an onsite recycling program for residents. For more information, call 703-228-6570.

2. Set up a box, bag or plastic container to collect bottles, cans and paper in your home.

3. Recycle every time you take out the trash or at least 3 times a month.

4. What to Recycle
   • Bottles, cans, jugs and jars.
   • Remove caps and rinse.
   • Newspaper (and office paper, catalogs, junk mail, cereal and food boxes, if accepted in your program)

Residents Receiving Weekly County Curbside Service

1. If you need a recycling bin, request a free bin online at www.arlingtonva.us/recycle or by calling 703-228-6570.
2. Place recycling at the curb next to your trash on your collection day.
3. What to Recycle
   Place in the yellow recycling bin:
   • Bottles, cans, jugs and jars.
   • Remove caps and rinse.
   Place next to the bin:
   • All types of paper (newspaper, catalogs, junk mail, cereal and food boxes, etc.) in paper bags or tied
   • Flatten cardboard boxes
   • Cut large boxes into pieces no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet

Materials

Curbside customers can request free yellow recycling bins online at www.arlingtonva.us/recycle or by calling 703-228-6570.

Residents living in apartments and condos: bag, basket or plastic tub to collect recyclables in your home.

Time

Resources

Arlington County Recycling page
www.arlingtonva.us/recycle

U.S. EPA page
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/facts.htm

If you are concerned about your apartment or condo property’s recycling program, please call the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services
703-228-6570