September 2014
Wandering through a nice condo building, one cannot help but be impressed by the look of its lobby, its amenities and other attributes. One other aspect that frequently stands out is that it is clean both inside and out. No trash on the floor. Elevators and parking areas are clean. No smudge marks or damage on walls or other surfaces.
One wonders why all condominiums have not learned this lesson about cleanliness. People are less likely to leave trash lying around a well maintained building.
Putting a little more effort to maintaining cleanliness and repairing damaged areas is likely to save money in the long run.
A few suggestions ….
Do not allow trash or recycling to be deposited in areas accessible or visible to the public. Keep trash and recycling areas hidden behind closed doors.
Situate disposal areas for maximum efficiency. It is less costly to maintain a generally clean building than it is to clean up from spills or improperly disposed of liquids, or to transport garbage from one location to another within a building.
Provide a single and well organized area for discarding trash, recycling and unwanted items.
Nobody wants to walk by open bins of trash or recycling. Do not locate large trash cans or recycling bins in open areas such as lobbies or parking areas. Where appropriate, provide a smaller trash or recycling bin in these areas with a permanent lid. A lid prevents overfilling. It also helps to minimize offensive smells. Finally, it prevents individuals from throwing and missing the receptacle. This reduces cleanup costs, particularly when it comes to liquids such as coffee that can stain walls, floors and other surfaces.
Use security cameras, where they exist, to identify those who improperly dispose of trash or recycling. Utilize the condo rules to ensure these individuals are responsible for additional cleanup costs when they inappropriately discard trash. It won’t take long for them to catch on and develop a greater respect for how they dispose of their unwanted items.
