Multi-unit residential buildings typically recycle at a lower rate than single-family dwellings. Many apartment units lack the storage space to hold material until the municipality collects it.

Finding a single solution to increase recycling in apartment buildings is difficult because building designs are varied in height, size, age and density.

By looking at the benefits - cost, convenience and feasibility - of the various recycling options, the design for the porter recycling system for multi-unit residential buildings emerged.

This integrated system for storage and collection will be retrofitted into existing multi-unit residential buildings. It will help improve the level and quality of recycling – increasing the awareness of building residents, reducing the costs of collection and processing as well as minimizing the use of landfills