Recycling Container Placement & Signage

Signage

Accurate signage on all disposal containers is a best practice to help educate your users on where materials should be placed to reduce what is sent to the landfill.

SWACO has a NEW Recycling Sign Maker Tool! Download premade or customizable PDF signs to meet your needs.

Consider these best practices when providing signage for your program:

Labeling should be consistent, not only for recycling containers but trash containers too.
Use images whenever possible.
Make sure the labels are color coded to the container they represent. Blue is recycling, Green is compost, Black (or Grey) is Landfill.
Customize your labels to only show items that are accepted at that receptable.
To make it easier for employees to ask questions about your recycling program, provide information on where to go to get answers about your recycling program.

If you have questions, we're here to help! Contact [email protected]

Recycle Signage Paper and Cardboard Only

Container Placement

For any recycling program to be successful, recycling containers must be as easy and convenient for employees to use as your current trash receptacles. The design and signage on recycling containers is also very important for program success. Click here to download the best practices guide for container set up here and learn more about container placement.

When selecting and placing your recycling containers:

Place a recycling container with every waste receptacle.

Make sure containers are visible and in easily accessible areas.

Use consistent signage and color coding of containers.

While containers may be different sizes or styles depending on their location, using consistent signage is important to reinforce what materials are accepted in your program. All recycling containers should be the same color (blue is recommended) and all trash containers should be a different consistent color. This helps create a consistent way to identify the containers and what is acceptable to place in them.

Different container openings can help signal what goes inside your containers.

The type of opening in the recycling container can also help your employees easily identify that it is a recycling container and what materials should be placed inside. For example, some recycling containers have a small, round opening when compared to a trash container, indicating that it is for recycling bottles and cans. Another common opening type is "Saturn" shaped, signally that it is a recycling container for receiving mixed recycling including bottles, cans, and paper.

Take the opportunity to assess the volume of your normal trash cans.

When placing new recycling containers throughout your workspace, make sure the group that handles the recycling and trash is present during this process.

Central Collection/Storage Area

If your operation is in a multi-story building or a facility with a large footprint, you might need to identify areas in the building where recyclables will be temporarily stored prior to delivering to the loading dock or other final location for collection by your service provider. If this is the case, you must consider the volumes and length of time that containers will be stored in these areas to determine if there is enough space.

Consider:

Is the storage site large enough?
Is there easy access to freight elevators and loading docks?
Does the area comply with local fire and building codes?
How much waste can be stored before safety and code violations become a concern?

Educate Your Employees