Why Multifamily Recycling Fails

and How Cities Are Rethinking the System

Lessons from Boston Housing Authority, City of SeaTac and new research

Date: Thursday May 21, 2026
Time: 12:30pm – 2pm Eastern

Overview

Recycling systems often work well in single-family neighborhoods – but they frequently struggle in apartment buildings.

Across North America, multifamily housing continues to experience lower recycling participation and higher contamination rates, even where strong policies and education programs are in place.

Why does this happen?

This webinar brings together researchers and practitioners working directly on multifamily recycling systems to explore the structural barriers that prevent recycling from working effectively in existing buildings.

Increasingly, research and operational experience suggest the issue is not simply resident behavior, but how recycling systems are designed. Cities are beginning to experiment with infrastructure changes – from container design and recycling hubs to controlled-access systems and data-driven monitoring – that help guide participation and reduce contamination.

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You’ll hear from:

Lisa Kowalchuk – University of Guelph
LinkedIn: Lisa Kowalchuk

Research on participation, contamination and infrastructure barriers in multifamily recycling systems.


Bobby Bell – Boston Housing Authority


As Boston Housing Authority’s (BHA) Green Infrastructure Deployment Manager, Bobby Bell thrives on connecting with people, our environment, and our shared “human mission” – to make the world a bit better – each day. He has two decades of experience implementing sustainability programs and projects relating to energy, water and waste management, in both the public and private sector, domestically and abroad.

With a Master’s in Water Resource Management and combined experience in LEED certification, decarbonization, circular economy, and climate resilience, Bobby provides integrated resource management solutions across multiple industries. He is thrilled to be back in Boston, working toward a brighter future with BHA residents and beyond.


Mason Giem – City of SeaTac
LinkedIn: Mason Giem, MPA

Mason James Giem is a Public Works Programs Coordinator for the City of SeaTac, Washington, specializing in public administration, contract management, and resource conservation programs, including solid waste and recycling. With a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, Mason has extensive experience planning, coordinating, and administering departmental programs, managing complex solid waste contracts with vendors like Recology, and overseeing professional consultant services.

Mason is skilled in budget development, grant application preparation, community outreach and education, and project management. Prior roles include serving as a Waste Zero Specialist at Recology CleanScapes, where they developed and delivered public education programs and acted as a primary contact for municipal staff, and as a Compost Outreach Program Manager for Washington State University. Mason leverages a background focused on social justice and environmental change to execute robust strategies for achieving business outcomes and targets.

Together, the speakers will explore what cities and housing providers are learning about designing recycling systems that actually work in existing buildings.


Who should attend


What You’ll Learn

The session will also explore emerging approaches such as structured participation, controlled access systems and infrastructure design innovations.

Register now

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