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sk every property manager
what they wish they could get
their residents to understand
better, and I bet recycling falls into
the top five. Between wish-cycling
and waste-bin confusion, our
waste management budgets seem
to be getting higher each time a
contamination charge hits our bill.
In Denver, AMLI Residential has
invested tens of thousands of dollars
in Recycle Across America signage
to help educate our residents. We’ve
hosted resident events with game-
changers like Scraps Mile High, a
pedal-powered composting service
we partnered with at our downtown
properties to bring more waste
diversion options to our residents.
We’ve written countless emails to let
our residents know when to recycle
and when to trash items. With all
of this, we’ve made a dent, albeit a
marginal one, in the education of our
residents. However, there is still a
ways to go.
In 2018 and 2019, AMLI
Residential conducted nation-wide
resident surveys on sustainability.
These surveys taught us that our
residents care, and they want to learn
more. For example, in 2019, 50% of
residents responding said they always
recycle, 63% expressed willingness
to pay more to live in a green/
sustainable community, and 49%
agreed or strongly agreed that green
features factored into their decision to
rent with AMLI Residential instead
of another community. There is a
desire among residents in Denver for
apartment communities to make it
easier to live a green lifestyle. This is
clear. But there is a lot of confusion
as well. In our 2019 survey, we found
that 20% of residents responding
said their favorite green feature at
their AMLI Residential community
in Denver is recycling, while 19% of
residents surveyed asked for better
recycling, more recycling education,
or to have recycling (which every
community has). So we can see that
there is a missed connection in the
education of our residents
on recycling.
www.aamdhq.org
In our 2018 survey, we asked
residents if they felt our on-site
teams were knowledgeable about
AMLI Residential commitment to
sustainability. Of those surveyed in the
Denver region, only 55% said yes. Of
the other 45%, the majority answered
undecided. From this data, we can
conclude a few things:
• Our residents want to lead greener
lifestyles, and are willing to pay for
ease of access to it. (I should note
here that residents are so tuned into
waste management/diversion as a
green initiative that in 2019, 22% of
residents responded that the green
feature they would most like to see
at their community is composting).
• Our residents don’t have an
overwhelming confidence that
their on-site teams are super
knowledgeable about our green
initiatives.
• Our residents want us to educate
them.
So, how do we work smarter, not
harder, at making a noticeable impact?
Surely education is the key, but we can
only host so many events and post so
many signs.
Has anyone else had fantasies about
watching the recycling room footage
and sending contamination notices? No?
Just me?
Kidding aside, it comes down to
our people: employees can make an
impact. Word of mouth is one of the
most powerful weapons that has ever
existed for any business, and it can travel
quickly. So, it’s time to pivot.
Let’s focus more on our employees
and their knowledge. If we can inject
passion for sustainability into our
employees, then on a day-to-day basis
they will be the ambassadors we need.
Think about it: how many conversations
does your team have with residents on
the daily? What if those conversations
were also educational opportunities?
And, how do you think it affects
the progress you’re making if your
employees don’t know that a greasy
OCTOBER 2019
TRENDS | 27