DeKALB | Earth Day is just around the corner, but in many apartment complexes in DeKalb, recycling bins may be hard to find.

Pittsley Realty employee Brendon Parrish said the company’s apartments do not provide recycling bins.

“If they did have it, I would make a habit out of it,” said Dan Flores, sophomore sociology major and Pittsley Realty tenant. “I did it back home.”

Pittsley does not have any plans to start implementing recycling bins, Parrish said.

“They can recycle on their own, I guess,” Parrish said.

Other properties have limited recycling services.

“I have one place where I use recycling bins,” said Jim Mason, owner of Mason Properties.

Recycling does present a problem for apartment complexes, amid its positive intentions.

“Recycling costs more money than it saves,” Mason said. “All the green people haven’t figured that out yet.”

Mary Alice Drain, an energy specialist at the NIU physical plant, said she understands why many apartment complexes do not have the option to recycle.

“It would be great if they did, but the typical reason they don’t is because it gets abused,” Drain said.

Mason agreed.

“People use them for garbage,” Mason said. “The reason it doesn’t work is because people don’t play the game,” Mason said.

Drain said those in apartments without recycling services do have options.

“There’s a recycling location open 24/7 for anyone in the community on West Stadium Drive,” Drain said.

Though the resources may not be at your feet, trying to help is important, Drain said.

“I don’t have recycling at my apartment, so I bring it over,” Drain said. “You have to make the effort.”