Smarter Infrastructure for Recovery and Drop‑Off Systems

Recovery systems work best when access and control work together

Recovery programs are being asked to do more. Diversion expectations are rising, organics requirements are expanding, and operators are under growing pressure to improve participation while protecting material quality.

In many environments, curbside service is limited, impractical, or unavailable. That makes shared drop-off and recovery infrastructure increasingly important. But where access is weak, sites are poorly located, or deposit is too open, participation can remain low and contamination can rise quickly.

As a result, many recovery systems struggle to scale consistently. Operators are left managing misuse, material loss, and recurring servicing issues instead of building cleaner, more reliable programs over time.

Why metroSTOR Works in Recovery Environments

Recovery environments need infrastructure that makes participation easy without giving up control over what happens at the point of deposit. metroSTOR is designed around that requirement.

By combining durable external containment, structured deposit points, and configurable access where needed, the system helps operators create recovery sites that are easier to use, easier to manage, and better able to protect material quality over time. Stronger containment reduces misuse and disturbance, while clearer deposit formats help support cleaner participation across shared and unsupervised environments.

Where required, access control and visibility can also be introduced to improve accountability, support cleaner material streams, and provide better operational insight as programs develop.

The result is infrastructure that helps operators improve participation, protect outputs, and maintain more reliable day-to-day performance across drop-off, organics, and wider recovery systems.

Where recovery programs benefit most from cleaner capture and better control

metroSTOR can be applied across a wide range of residential settings, from individual apartment properties to larger multifamily portfolios.

Community
drop-off sites

Supports accessible, better-contained recovery infrastructure where public participation and material quality both matter.

Organics
recovery programs

Helps strengthen participation and protect sensitive streams in environments where open systems often struggle to maintain quality.

Multifamily overflow and shared recovery points

Provides a more reliable recovery option in higher-density environments where curbside collection may be limited or inconsistent.

Regulated
recovery programs

Supports cleaner capture and more controlled participation where accountability, reporting, and long-term program performance are important.

How metroSTOR recovery systems are typically configured

Systems can be configured to suit different recovery models, material streams, and levels of access control.

In more open public settings, metroSTOR infrastructure helps provide durable, visible, and better-contained collection points that support participation without relying on constant supervision. In more sensitive or regulated environments, access can be structured more tightly to protect material quality and improve accountability.

Configurations can support organics, recycling, and other specialist recovery streams, helping operators improve infrastructure standards while working within existing servicing and hauling arrangements.

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External waste and recycling enclosures

Used to move waste and recycling out of internal spaces and into cleaner, more durable external infrastructure that is easier to manage over time.

Controlled-access systems

Introduced where stronger containment, cleaner use, and greater day-to-day control are needed across shared residential environments.

Organics infrastructure

Applied where food waste participation and material quality need strengthening, particularly in settings where open systems tend to underperform.

Secure storage applications

Used where the same infrastructure approach can support adjacent storage needs within multifamily environments.

Better Recovery Performance Starts with Better Infrastructure

Recovery systems often underperform because access and control are not designed together.

When participation is inconvenient, sites are poorly located, or deposit is too open, materials continue to enter general waste and contamination becomes harder to manage. Even where participation improves, material quality can quickly degrade if infrastructure does not protect the stream at the point of deposit.

By combining stronger containment, clearer deposit logic, and configurable access where needed, metroSTOR helps operators improve participation while protecting material quality. Sites become easier to manage, outputs become more consistent, and programs are better positioned to scale without losing control.

The result is infrastructure that supports cleaner capture, more reliable recovery, and stronger long-term program performance across shared environments.

Proven in recovery environments

metroSTOR helps operators improve participation, protect material quality, and support more reliable recovery across shared and public-facing environments.

The City of Hailey is turning local challenges into an opportunity with a 24/7 community food waste drop-off program that makes composting simple and accessible for residents. Supported by funding from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the city installed secure metroSTOR enclosures in key locations, allowing easy access by keypad or app and keeping food waste composting local within the valley. Since launching in late 2023, the program has expanded to five active sites with strong participation and minimal contamination, showcasing a flexible, low-maintenance model that’s inspiring other communities.

“For a city of our size, we were amazed at how much food waste we collected right away. The keypad-access bins were by far the most popular, people just want something simple and easy to use.”

Emily Williams
Grants and Sustainability Coordinator, City of Hailey

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Talk to us about recovery infrastructure

Talk to us about systems for organics, drop-off, and other shared recovery environments where participation, material quality, and long-term performance all matter.

Related Insight and Guidance

Designing effective public drop-off systems

Recovery systems often underperform because access is inconvenient, control is weak, or infrastructure is not designed for real patterns of use. This insight explores what stronger recovery performance depends on in practice.

Learn what drives underperformance here

Designing recovery systems for participation and material quality

A practical guide to specifying infrastructure, structuring access, and improving day-to-day recovery performance across organics, recycling, and wider drop-off systems.

View the resource here