Sorting out waste and recycling in multi-unit developments

They can share walls, noise, cooking smells, and occasionally awkward elevator rides. But do apartment dwellers also share the same knowledge and practices when it comes to waste and recycling?

Apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) present unique challenges for managing waste and recyclables. Many do not have the same access to the recycling services that traditional single homes do. It’s a challenge that Sustainability Victoria is tackling. We’re sparking sustainability action in these micro communities by supporting them to design their own circular economy solutions.

Sustainability Victoria recently supported a trial to improve recycling in apartments and units led by 10 local councils in partnership with Reground. The trial was funded through a grant from the Circular Economy Councils Fund. It saw 60 apartment and unit communities design their own solutions to improve waste and recycling.

Before the trial, common complaints from residents were that:

• there were not enough recycling options
• not all residents were using the bins properly
• bins were often overflowing.

After the trial across the 60 apartment and unit buildings, waste going to landfill reduced by 6% (by weight). Glass recycling increased by a whopping 2000%, FOGO increased by 30% and cardboard and paper increased by 132% (all by weight).

In Fitzroy, a medium-rise building with 26 apartments added collection bins for:

• food organics
• glass
• cardboard and paper
• e-waste
• batteries
• soft plastic
• the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

They were also one of 21 buildings in the trial to install a clothing collection bin to keep textiles out of landfill. This enthusiastic community also set up new signage and floor markings and held a launch party for the new waste room.

At the end of the trial period, recycling had increased from 31% to 56%. Contamination (putting things in the wrong bin, which often results in the whole load of recycling going to landfill) decreased from 10% to 7.4%.

Over in Southbank, a 29-storey building with 261 apartments faced challenges common to many high-rises. This included general waste chutes on each floor that discouraged going down to the main waste area to separate recycling. The building’s management improved the signage at the chutes and in the waste and recycling room to make it clear that recycling could not be disposed of via the chutes.

As a result of this small change, correctly separated recycling increased from 9.4% to 11%. The next step will be a targeted education campaign encouraging residents to come down to the waste area to separate their recycling instead of using chutes.

In Glenroy, a two-story low-rise with 22 units added FOGO and glass recycling, changed the layout of their outdoor bin storage area, and installed clear signage. They also sent reminders to residents about how to dispose of e-waste and textiles. This resulted in a decrease in contamination (putting things in the wrong bin) from 33% to an amazing 4%.

Inspired to take action in your apartment building?

Here are some top tips to come out of this trial:

• Recruit waste champions: Include owners corporation committee members and managers, facilities staff and residents. These people are key players in advocating for more recycling streams and better education for their building.
• Mark the floor for which bin goes where: Using cloth-tape for floor markings works well for indoor waste areas while painted floor markings are better suited for outdoor waste areas.
• Install signage: Signage is a key part of educating residents who may have varied levels of knowledge.
• Put your clothing bin outside the waste area: To save space, put the clothing collection bin in the car park or foyer, but make sure it is secure to avoid looting and dumping.
• Clean your FOGO bin regularly: Avoid those funky smells that cause residents to give the bin room a wide berth.

Read more tips on improving recycling in apartments and units in Sustainability Victoria’s Guide to Better Practice for Waste Management and Recycling in Multi-unit Developments.

The guide will assist architects, building designers, developers, building managers, planners and waste management officers to incorporate effective waste and recycling systems into all stages of a development’s life.