Among the primary obstacles faced by the multi-residential sector towards achieving optimal diversion, is site design. In this section, find design guidelines, including LEED and Ontario Building Code recommendations, and samples of municipal site development guides.

Municipal Design Standards

Municipalities are responsible for enacting by-laws and generating design standards that govern the collection and storage of waste at multi-residential (MR) buildings. Though provincial design guidelines are desirable to support municipal efforts, at this time, there is no Ontario standard.

To further province-wide consistency, Part A – Best Practices for the Storage and Collection of Recyclables in Multi-Residential Buildings of the CIF 3-part Report #219 Building Code & Design Standards makes four key recommendations:

• Site Plan Approval Process – Add a waste management section to the municipal site development approval process; require property developers to meet specific collection and storage requirements; have waste departments and planners work together to review and approve developer proposals.
• Recycling Room Design – Provide: a separate accessible recycling room (size requirements related to cart need) with cart quantity and size recommendations relative to unit numbers; ensure appropriate front-end bin floor space, and door size; and, A/C and pest control requirements.
• Internal Collection Systems – Provide internal chute systems and/or rooms that accommodate resident recycling needs. For example, dual and triple chute systems, a chute room area able to accommodate collections bins, tri-sorters on single chutes, or the removal of the garbage chute altogether to be replaced by a recycling and garbage room.
• Loading and Access Facilities – Facilitate access to recyclables by collectors (turnaround area, asphalt construction, loading pad information, etc.)

Canadian Green Building Standards

Regardless of whether a multi-residential (MR) property developer wants its building to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – an internationally-lauded sustainable building standard) certified or not, recommending the installation of LEED Green Building Standards will have a positive impact on resident recycling participation rates. This will benefit both the property manager, by reducing a building’s waste disposal fees and improving its profile; and the municipality, through reduced contamination costs and greater materials revenue.

Part B of CIF Report #219 Building Code & Design Standards builds upon the conclusions of Part A to recommend optimal MR recycling infrastructure that can subsequently be applied as credits to the Canadian LEED Green Buildings Rating System.

These include:

• strategies for reducing the environmental impact of buildings, and
• new and/or improved blue box recycling measures.

Of note, LEED standards propose a solid waste management policy, regular audits, and an internal re-use program for exchanging durable goods, for each multi-residential building.

Within the LEED certification document, requirements for new builds are separated from existing buildings. CIF Report #219- B details these and outlines the process for making a Green Building Design and Construction submission to LEED administrators.

Ontario Building Code Proposal

In an effort to address the lack of recycling infrastructure in multi-residential (MR) buildings, CIF Report #219 Part C identifies provisions within the Ontario Building Code that could be updated to accommodate recycling storage and collection. Though not legislated, consider including these guidelines when proposing MR waste management building standards for your municipality:

• Wherever a chute room is available, provide a separate recycling chute(s) or a room large enough to effectively accommodate recycling activities (and associated safety measures)
• Ensure chute room doors swing safely outward for ease of access and storage
• When multiple or enlarged chute rooms are not possible, a recycling room, appropriate in size, should be made available in or attached to, the main building
• Disposing of recycling must be made as convenient as disposing garbage

Like the Canadian Green Building Standards, the implementation of these best practices can benefit both the municipality and property manager through the reduction of costs associated with contamination and poor participation, a common challenge in the MR sector.

Establishing on-site multi-residential recycling collection requires a municipality to undertake a number of administrative and contractual steps.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming superintendents, property managers, and local property developers understand your waste diversion services. They are key to a successful program; take the time to teach them not only how recycling works in your municipality, but the importance of recycling well, including reduced costs, increased sustainability (landsite longevity, for example) and community pride. Don’t use jargon, and increase their awareness, by explaining the common problems found in multi-residential recycling – contamination and participation – and how to solve them.

When setting up on-site recycling collection services to multi-residential (MR) buildings, the steps to follow include:

1. Making initial contact and establishing the service relationship and rapport.
2. Setting up a site file in your multi-residential database in which to insert: communication activities (e.g. site visits, phone calls); site plan, container information and waste services requirements; observations, and evaluation (e.g. audits, visual inspections) outcomes.
3. Providing site design requirements, if in the development or reconstruction stage.
4. Completing an initial site visit.
5. Making recommendations for site set-up (this may include municipal site development compliance and coordination with your planning department).
6. Outlining roles and responsibilities through an application and agreement (see Shared Experience below).
7. Benchmarking performance to enable future comparison.
8. Providing P&E materials and required containers, as identified in the site visit.

Managing a high performing, cost-effective waste management program requires a comprehensive understanding of your local multi-residential sector. Track your multi-residential buildings to ensure informed planning, financial, operational and outreach decisions.

Multi-Residential Database

If you are at the beginning stages of database development, you can gather lists of properties from various municipal departments including, planning, property taxation, and technology services. You can also obtain multi-residential information from local property management companies and rental associations. Follow up this initial information gathering with in-person site visits (see tab above) subsequently scheduled regularly as an on-going component of program maintenance.

For a comprehensive understanding of the properties you serve, include photos and maps.

In combination with other methods of waste sector analysis, stakeholder and peer consultation, and cost analysis, a complete understanding of your multi-residential sector will emerge. With it, your decisions will be informed, appropriate and ultimately, more effective.

Contact CIF Staff for database support.

Overview and analysis of the various program and funding models used in the multi-residential sector.

Currently, across the province, multi-residential (MR) waste management services are delivered using a variety of models; some municipalities provide all services, some provide none.

Within the context of the new Waste-Free Ontario Act, the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority will provide oversight of waste diversion plans and compliance, and stewards will be 100% financially responsible for services. As municipalities will no longer be obligated partners, they will be faced with decisions regarding their continued involvement in providing recycling services to residents including, their role in collection, and promotion and education.

For an historic understanding of the models used to provide and fund MR services, read Sustainable Financing Approaches for Multi-Family Buildings (2009) and Implementation of a Sustainable Financing System for Solid Waste Management in Ontario (2009)

Research shows that having enough storage space for recyclables is critical to a successful diversion program. Find out more about capacity requirements and take advantage of the CIF group tender for recycling containers.

Containers

To recycle, you need containers; enough to address the convenience and capacity needs of recyclers. Without them, viable materials end up in the garbage. Best practices indicate that containers should be the first and foremost consideration of a multi-residential program.

With a diversion target of 70% as the goal, municipalities are recommended to provide a container minimum of 50 litres per residential unit (equivalent to 1 fourteen-gallon blue box).

In terms of building storage, this is one 360 litre cart for every seven units or one four-yard bin for every 60 units.

This is a guideline only. Demographic characteristics and other influencers like density of recyclables, recovery target (the recommendation above is based on 70%), and quantity of recyclables in the waste stream will have an impact on your buildings’ container needs. Site visits and regular check-ins with property managers and/or superintendents may indicate different needs; to ensure optimal recovery, make these a priority.

Signage on carts is important for those in wheelchairs as the carts are too tall to see inside. Signage needs to be on the outside of the cart, facing the wheelchair user at eye-level.”– City of Hamilton.

Bins and Bags

Here are some tips gleaned through municipalities collective experience on the use of bags versus bins in the multi-residential sector: