At Habitat Apartments, we take pride in our ability to care for the environment. Living in an area that is as naturally beautiful as Boulder gives us a strong appreciation for Mother Nature and a sense of responsibility for her longevity. We’re also realists and know that life in a one or two-bedroom apartment can be difficult for those trying to recycle. Limited space means we have to be mindful of how we use every inch of our rental units, and unfortunately, recycling often falls by the wayside. In order to help apartment residents achieve their goal of eco-friendly living, we’ve compiled a few ideas for recycling solutions that work for apartment home renters.
Recycling Bags
Recycling bins bring thoughts of blue rectangles that don’t quite fit anywhere convenient in the home. By switching to recycling bags, your options become much more varied. Because they are collapsible, bags can be kept just about anywhere in the house. Our favorite place to stash them is in a closet (or pantry, if your apartment has one) off the kitchen. Put a command strip on the wall and hang a bag, keeping your recyclables off the ground and out of sight.
Pro Tip: Paper or plastic grocery bags can be used but are prone to tearing. Purchase a fabric bag, or even use an old laundry bag for a more durable solution.
2-in-1 Trash Bins
This concept takes an already essential item, the trash bin, and combines it with a recycling bin in order to save space. The true genius of this concept lies in the fact that garbage cans are indisputably necessary in the home, while recycling bins are not. By creating a 2-in-1 refuse bin, recycling becomes just as easy as throwing away trash. The convenience factor is huge, and it won’t add any extra clutter to your apartment. Check out Rubbermaid’s 2-in-1 bin for an example.
Plastic Drawers
Buying a standard set of plastic drawers like these from Walmart is a great solution for an unobtrusive, self-contained recycling bin. Tuck the drawers away in a kitchen corner or underneath a countertop and you’ll be hard pressed to know they’re full of recyclables unless you’re told. At Habitat we use comingled recycling so every drawer can be utilized without worrying about separating recyclables by material.
It can also be beneficial to leave one drawer as storage for household items like garbage bags or cleaning supplies. This will encourage awareness of your recycling and promote good habits. Items that are used infrequently work best to give you that weekly reminder to help out our planet.
We hope that, with these suggestions, your apartment can become a little more Earth-friendly without having to sacrifice living space. Keeping your home looking sharp will not only improve your quality of life, but also encourage recycling because it is convenient and noninvasive.
If you’re looking for an apartment in Boulder, look no further than Habitat Apartments. We offer multiple layouts to suit your needs and all of the amenities you could ask for!