Multi-family properties represent the next step for Madison Heights to expand equitable recycling access for its residents and reduce landfill waste generated across the city. Building on the City’s successful 2025 universal cart rollout for single-family homes, CLCF Fellow Christine Mathieu, developed a multifamily recycling pilot to be launched at Lexington Village Apartments. She created an implementation plan that includes program design guidelines and operational recommendations for Lexington Village as well as for other multi-family properties interested in enrolling in the program. The Fellow conducted on-site assessments with property managers to identify suitable locations for recycling cart stations. Additionally, to support successful participation, she developed educational outreach materials designed to encourage proper recycling habits among residents and reduce contamination in recycling carts. Collectively, these deliverables will provide Madison Heights with a scalable model for expanding recycling services and a practical guide that other Michigan communities can adapt for similar initiatives.

• Location: Madison Heights, MI
• Project Team:
  • Christine Mathieu (Fellow, University of Michigan)
  • Harley Mordarski (Mentor, City of Madison Heights)
  • Kristen Wieland (Technical Advisor, RRS)
• Project Presentation (PDF)
• Project Deliverables:
  • Recycling Right (PDF) - guide for Madison Heights staff who work with solid waste haulers and engage with multi-family property managers and residents, and multi-family property staff who coordinate the recycling campaign launch with a municipality and engage with residents. See the templates for other municipalities and property managers below.
  • City Staff Guidebook template (Word) - edit this guide to share information with city staff
  • Property Staff Guidebook template (Word) - edit this guide to share information with property managers
  • Pilot Program Implementation Plan template (Word) - edit this guide to share information with city staff and/or property managers
  • Property Owner Interest Survey (Word) - survey for municipalities to put on their website for potential partnering mulit-family property owners to complete
  • Step-by-Step Onboarding for Property Managers (PDF) - instructions on how property managers can enroll in a municipal muli-family recycling program
  • MOU for Municipalities and Property Managers template (Word)
  • Pre-Assessment Checklist template (Word) - checklist for municipalities when inspecting a potential partnering mulit-family property
  • Recycling Container Monitoring Checklist template (Word) - checklist for property manager when inspecting recycling carts
  • Resident Interest Survey template (Word)
  • Communication templates (PDF) - edit these in Adobe or a similar program to include your own logos
    • Educational welcome flyer
    • Recycling is coming to our property flyer
    • Educational flyer
    • Educational door hanger
    • Educational magnet
    • Educational flyer on recycling contaminants
    • Educational flyer on plastic bags
    • Educational flyer on where materials go
    • Educational flyer for specific properties
    • Resident recycling guide