The choice of appropriate containers and signage is a key factor in the success of source separation in the public sector if Customer-Based Sorting (Strategy 2) and/or Dual Sorting (Strategy 3) are implemented. Restaurant owners and managers indicated that guidelines for purchasing and locating containers and signage would be useful.

Current Situation

The best examples of containers and signage currently in use are at the Bridgewater Mall. They include many of the elements of a successful container and signage system, including colour-coding and clear signage. However, the ideal set of containers does not currently exist (see Containers and Signage). The best sample of source-separation containers currently available is Midpoint International’s Top Loader, which has four streams, a slanted top, room for signage, a tailored-hole shape and a containment barrier. (See Waste, Recycling and Organics Containers and Signage – Including Photographic Record).

Recommendations

2.1 Container and Signage Study

It would be valuable to conduct a study looking at the effectiveness of container types. The ideal container system could be implemented at a few restaurants as a pilot study to determine their effectiveness. The data collected could then be compared with data from restaurants with less than ideal containers.

2.2 Container and Signage Guidelines

The following is a list of guidelines that have been developed as a result of discussions with waste coordinators, and conducting site visits at restaurants with source separation containers in front-of-the-counter. Container and signage guidelines could be made into a pamphlet and published on a website in order to make them easily available to restaurant owners/managers.

• green for organics
• blue for recycling
• black for garbage Appropriate shape of holes:
• narrow slot for paper
• round for bottles
• large square for garbage
• rectangle for organics

• rubber insert for beverage container hole
• compost bin with lid that must be lifted to insert organics
• Easy to open
• Slanted tops so waste will not be left on top
• All waste stream containers should be situated directly next to each other, creating a source separation centre
• Ideally made out of recycled materials
• Ideally made locally
• Sturdy
• Clear plastic bags, not black garbage bags, should be used so that waste is easily identified after the bag has been removed from the container
• Easy to clean Ideal Signage Guidelines
• Graphics should be used to illustrate where waste should go, text should be minimal
• Graphics should be of actual waste (i.e. containers, wrappers) generated in restaurant
• Colloquial text i.e. “garbage” instead of “residuals” - Colourful, eye-catching signs
• Signs should be located both on the top backboard of the container, at adult eye-level, as well as on the front of container, at child eye-level and where people who use wheelchairs can easily see them - Signage should be uniform within a restaurant chain