Multifamily Composting

Who is responsible? 

Multifamily properties with five or more dwelling units are responsible to provide residents and employees with convenient access to commercial composting services. Multifamily properties include apartments, condos, dorms, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

What do I need to do? 

Multifamily properties will need to meet updated URO requirements for composting. Many of the requirements match existing multifamily recycling requirements. Report your composting service when you submit your Recycling Plan each year between October 1 and February 1. 

1. Offer commercial composting

Multifamily properties must accept certain materials for composting including food scraps, food-soiled paper and BPI-certified compostable products. 

Multifamily properties are required to offer one gallon of composting capacity per unit.

• Use the Multifamily Composting calculator to determine capacity needs. The calculator offers suggestions only. Work with your licensed hauler to identify the best option for your property.
• Properties can consolidate landfill trash containers, or use large, shared composting containers to meet capacity requirements.
• You must provide enough commercial composting capacity to avoid overflow at convenient locations for residents and employees. 

Composting must be picked up from your property at least once a week. The new rules require access to commercial composting services, where compostables are collected at the property and processed at a composting facility.  

Call your licensed hauler(s) or find a licensed hauler to add commercial composting service. 

• Work with your licensed hauler to choose the size and number of composting containers you need. Ensure that:
  • The total composting capacity you provide meets the one gallon per unit requirement.
  • Composting is collected by your licensed hauler at least once per week.
  • At least one compost container is within 25 feet of all landfill trash containers.
  • All composting, recycling and landfill trash outdoor containers meet the signs requirements.

Questions to ask your licensed hauler

• How often do you clean or exchange the containers?
• When will collections occur?
• What types of bags should we use?
• Where will you place the compost container(s)?
• Do you offer free educational resources and signs?
• What do you consider contamination?

2. Provide convenient access

• At least one compost container is within 25 feet of all landfill trash containers.
• If you provide indoor landfill trash bins in common areas, you must also provide composting bins. You are required to group the bins together and label them in at least two languages. Common areas include community spaces, cafeterias and gyms.

3. Post signs

All composting containers must have signs on them.

All signs must:

• Be labeled with the type of waste stream.
• List which materials are accepted in the container.
• Provide information in at least two languages. 

Get free composting signs

• Print free indoor composting signs or create your own organics signs for your property. 

4. Provide educational resources to your residents and employees

Create educational resources about the landfill trash, recycling and organics services at your property

• Show the Commercial Organics Education Videos.
  • What can I compost?
  • Reduce the risk of compost contamination
• Download and edit the letter and email template  for multifamily properties. Share with your residents.
• Create a map of your outdoor landfill trash, recycling and composting containers on the property. Share the map with your employees and residents.
• Download and share the  composting and recycling tips sheet with your employees and residents.   
• Direct residents and employees to the Apartment & Condo Composting webpage by sending the URL via email, e-newsletter, your website and/or social media channels.

Document when you provide educational resources 

• Download and edit the sample training log to set a regular training schedule.
• Download and edit the sample attendance log or start archiving your educational emails to document attendance.

Best Practices

Keep your composting carts clean.

Keep the lid to your container closed at all times. Ensure your container is serviced each week. Rinse your container with mild soap and water when necessary. Be sure to pour the dirty water onto the lawn and not down a storm drain. Consider using baking soda inside of the containers.  Place yard trimmings at the bottom of each of your containers after they are serviced to manage excess moisture.

Have your residents help.

Ask residents to wrap food scraps in paper products like paper towels, newspaper, paper bags or small cardboard boxes to absorb moisture and manage odors. Another option is to freeze food scraps until the morning of scheduled service.  

Reduce the risk of contamination.

Keep composting containers in a secure location. Make sure all composting containers are clearly marked with signs. Ask your licensed hauler to color code signs and containers (green for composting, blue for recycling, black/gray/brown for landfill trash) to make them easy to distinguish.  Provide educational resources about your composting service to your residents and employees, like sharing the Reduce the risk of compost contamination video.

Encourage your maintenance staff to use the compost containers.

Yard waste and lawn clippings can help manage moisture. While your employees are welcome to use the containers, your residents must also have access to them. The minimum capacity requirement is related to the number of units at your property. If compost containers begin to overflow regularly, you will need to increase your service.

Apply for a rebate to support your composting program

Up to $3,000 in rebates are available to eligible properties. Expenses could include indoor collection bins and compostable bags. Applicants must apply between October 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025.