how multi-residential communities in San francisco improved composting participation.
Since San Francisco became the first U.S. city to mandate composting in 2009, EcoSafe has supported multi-residential programs from the ground up. Helping properties reduce contamination, improve participation, and build cleaner food scrap collection systems.
San Francisco set the bar for composting initiatives when it passed the nation's first mandatory composting law in 2009, but even a decade later, the city's outreach team was still working to improve participation and reduce contamination in its 800,000+ resident program. In 2014, they partnered with EcoSafe to trial the MultiRes® food scraps collection program across four multi-family high-rise buildings, providing residents with free compostable bags through conveniently located dispensers backed by clear signage and educational materials.
The results were striking: participation climbed from under 50% to over 80% in all four buildings, contamination dropped to under 1% in three of them, and resident satisfaction hit 89%, nearly double the rate of the standard city program. For cities and property managers wrestling with food scrap diversion in dense residential settings, the EcoSafe MultiRes® program has proven to be a practical, high-impact solution.
Real results from
san francisco multi-residential
composting program.
“For high-rise buildings in San Francisco, compostable bags are critical to get full participation in the City’s composting program. By implementing EcoSafe’s program, we have seen a decrease in contamination." Alexa Kielty, Senior Coordinator for the City of San Francisco Department of the Environment
Why did San francisco
PROPERTY MANAGERS
Choose ecosafe?
One of the biggest challenges in multi-residential composting is creating systems residents can easily understand and consistently use. EcoSafe compostable liners helped improve food scrap collection visibility, reduce contamination, and support cleaner organics streams across participating San Francisco properties, making composting simpler for residents and easier for property management teams to maintain.
Residents appreciated the clean, easy-to-use composting system and the convenience of centrally supplied compostable bags. Providing bags in bulk at a shared location also made participation more affordable compared to purchasing bags at retail.
Successful multi-residential composting programs require more than just bins and liners. EcoSafe supported property managers with training, educational resources, and ongoing program guidance to help residents sort food scraps correctly, reduce contamination, and improve long-term participation.
Most apartments and families only require 2–3 compostable bags per week, making the MultiRes system both practical and cost-effective. Each dispenser refill includes 325 certified compostable bags, providing reliable 24/7 access for residents in multi-residential buildings and student housing.
Ready to start diverting organics in your apartment building? Contact our team of experts to get started.
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