Collection

Multi-Residential Recycling

The multi-residential (MR) recycling sector is complex. The challenge of addressing variations in infrastructure, oversight, and demographics can contribute to high blue box contamination and low resident participation rates. With its potential for great diversion, making efforts to address this complexity is well worth municipal attention. This section provides tools, research, and best practices to improve diversion rates, decrease contamination rates, and reduce costs specific to MR Blue Box recycling.

Templates, Tools & Resources

KPMG’s Blue Box Program Enhancement and Best Practices Assessment Project 

Though written in 2007, this recommended best practice summary contains a wealth of information to assist in understanding and improving municipal blue box programming today. (MR section only)

Emerging Best Practices in the Multi-Residential Sector

As of June 2016, CIF was gathering municipal representatives to work through challenges specific to the multi-residential (MR) sector. Through regular meetings, presentations and research, the group added to current multi-residential best practices as identified in KPMG’s Blue Box Program Enhancement and Best Practices Assessment Project.

Guidelines for Implementing Best Practices in Municipal MR Recycling Programs.

Following up on KPMG’s cornerstone document, the City of London produced this practical guide, on how to implement the following best practices:

  • Building and maintaining a database of all multi-residential properties
  • Benchmarking performance and monitoring on a regular basis
  • Providing adequate recycling bin capacity
  • Providing promotion and education materials

SO Multi-Residential Print Campaign

Stewardship Ontario developed a multi-residential print campaign adaptable for local use. Download a zip file with pdf samples as well as adaptable design, image and font files (InDesign and Photoshop). Goals of the campaign are to capture aluminum cans and PET bottles (containers found in lower amounts in the multi-residential sector), focus on easily identifiable recyclables, and incorporate a “back-to-basics” message.

York University’s Waste Wiki

This website has over 4000 studies on waste, including:


CIF Funded Projects: Multi-Residential
CIF Connections Blog: Multi-Residential