Adopting Best Practices for Waste Bin Placement and Signage
For a recycling program to be successful, proper sorting of materials needs to be as simple and straightforward for frontline staff as possible. To ensure that waste materials are managed correctly, it is important that your organization makes it as easy as possible to recycle by providing the right types of waste bins, placing them in the right locations, and providing informational signage and education. Read on to learn more about best practices for waste bin placement and signage in healthcare settings.
Use Effective Bin Placement
Reviewing the number, type, and location of trash and recycling bins in each area of your facility can help identify gaps in bin coverage and potential areas for improvement. To prevent confusion for staff and decrease levels of recycling stream contamination, standardize waste bins to ensure that the same style of containers are used throughout the facility. Follow internationally accepted color-coding for each stream: blue for recycling, black for trash, and green for organics (if applicable).
Placement of containers is incredibly important to recycling program success. To determine whether the right types of bins are being provided in a particular location, talk to staff and assess waste items in the current bins to determine the types and quantities of materials typically generated in that location before deciding on placement.
In non-clinical areas, be sure to pair each trash bin with a recycling and compost bin, and minimize individual deskside bins in office settings to encourage recycling and compost and minimize contamination. Areas where large volumes of waste are generated, high-traffic areas, areas where people congregate, entrances, and exits are all good locations for placing bins.
In clinical areas, avoid placing recycling bins where clinical items and exam gloves may contaminate the bins. An example of a high-contamination area is the central nurses’ station. Encourage staff to walk recyclables and compostable items to a staff lounge or nearby three-stream sorting station.
Use Clear, Standardized Instructional Messaging
When it comes to recycling, convenience and clear messaging are key. Consistent design elements for bins and signage paired with well-matched messaging helps take the guesswork out of recycling. Best practices for signage and bin labeling include:
Stay consistent—Standardize visual clues, such as consistent recycling station styles, placement, colors, labels, and messaging. These elements should be kept consistent across different areas of the hospital and should be developed in line with hospital compliance standards.
Use standardized, color-coded signage—To make recycling easy for staff and the public, use signs and bin labels with clear images (sketches or photos), and follow the internationally accepted color-coding for each stream. Images and color-coding are also helpful to overcome language barriers.
Educate on proper preparations of materials—Confirm what materials your recycling contractor does and does not accept for recycling and whether there are any preparations needed before items are placed in the recycling bin (like cleaning and rinsing containers, whether caps should be taken off, etc.).
Place signage around collection containers for easy viewing—Place signage at eye-level in unobstructed locations, making it easier for users to choose the correct bin.
Restricted bin openings—Restricted openings on the tops of recycling containers help the user determine which is the right container for their item. Examples include smaller, round openings for aluminum cans and plastic beverage containers and rectangular slits for office paper. Be sure that openings are large enough to accommodate all the materials accepted in each stream.
Optimize Waste Storage Space
Research shows that well-designed waste storage spaces improve waste diversion rates, but many commercial buildings, including hospitals, lack adequate space for storage. Optimizing waste storage space is vital to program success and supports quality materials management in the hospital.The same principles that guide proper waste sorting signage should be applied to waste storage and handling areas:
Provide consistent collection bin and cart types by waste stream
Provide consistent signage: color-coded, visual, at eye-level, with clear handling instructions
Ensure that the waste dock features consistent signage and wayfinding as well to maximize sort quality at the dumpster
According to New York City’s Zero Waste Design Guidelines, important considerations for storage space in commercial buildings include:
Size—The size of storage area required and clearances for movement of containers
Mechanical considerations—Ventilation, temperature, lighting, water and drain for washing down containers
Access to exterior
Flood plain—With a cellar at risk of flooding, consider using larger containers as opposed to bags, or store waste at grade.
Collaboration— Work with building management to develop SOPs with clear steps for moving waste streams through the building. Provide information so building management can follow up with education, training, and support for staff.
Develop an Education and Awareness Program
It is important to build a staff education and awareness program so that employees who use the facilities and generate waste are aware of where and how they should dispose of it. Simply placing bins in suitable locations and signing them well does not necessarily lead to awareness and behavior change—education is key. Share information about recycling and other waste management protocols in staff meetings, and include it in emails and other communications shared with staff, including information on the “why” of recycling and waste diversion. Be sure to establish a channel of communication for staff to provide feedback, and consider creating a dashboard, graphics, or other visual tools for staff to follow along with progress. A good best practice is to review waste practices and discuss feedback with staff quarterly and also in advance of renewing any waste management contracts or starting any new ones.
