Multifamily Sort Smart Challenge

Sort Smart written out with images of recycling dumpster and food waste cart with recycling items and food waste items flowing into them.

The Sort Smart Challenge is back for 2026, and we’re inviting Kirkland multifamily properties to join us in creating cleaner, more sustainable communities!

The Sort Smart Challenge is a three-month, friendly competition between Kirkland multifamily properties to reduce recycling and compost contamination and improve resident sustainability behaviors. It’s fun, educational, and a great way to support your residents and community!

How does it work?

Participating properties receive:

  • Twice‑per-month recycling and compost checks using photos captured by WM collection trucks
  • A monthly report with contamination results, optional on-site support dates and a short resident email or a stand-alone tip to share.
  • A review of container sizes to identify opportunities to reduce overflow, contamination, and improve efficiency

Our shared goal? Cleaner recycling, lower costs where possible and a more sustainable Kirkland.

Why Participate?

Participating in the Sort Smart challenge can help:

  • Reduce contamination issues and charges
  • Identify right‑sizing of dumpster and carts for more efficient service levels
  • Strengthen residents’ recycling and composting habits
  • Build a cleaner, more environmentally responsible community

At the end of the challenge, the top three properties will be recognized by the City of Kirkland. The overall winner will receive a guided tour of WM’s Cascade Recycling Center for up to 20 staff and residents!

Property managers can sign up by contacting Kirkland’s WM Education & Outreach Coordinator, Grace Fletcher, at gfletch1@wm.com. WM’s outreach team is here to support your staff and residents every step of the way.

Let’s work together to make 2026 Kirkland’s cleanest, most sustainable year yet. Join the Sort Smart Challenge today!

Guides to help you recycle and compost right:

Click on the images below to view the full-size images of each waste stream poster.

Recycle Poster 2023.PNG   Compost Poster 2023.PNG   Garbage Poster 2023.PNG

Guides are available in multiple languages:

Chinese / 繁體中文(3 page pdf)
Spanish / español(3 page pdf)
Russian / Русский(3 page pdf)
Korean / 한국어(3 page pdf)
Amharic / አማርኛ(3 page pdf)
Somali / Af Soomaali(3 page pdf)
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt(3 page pdf)
Hindi / हिंदी(3 page pdf)

Top Tips for Recycling and Composting

1. No plastic bags, No expanded polystyrene (StyrofoamTM), No bagged recyclables, No clothes or textiles, and No wires or cords. Find out how to recycle these items by visiting our Beyond the Cart webpage.

Items not for recycling

What was the 2025 Sort Smart Tournament?

Apartments and condos competed to recycle and compost the right items. A sorting coach provided support including free giveaways to help residents recycle and compost right! Dumpsters and carts were monitored weekly to identify and highlight contamination items.

Please check out Councilmember Penny Sweet's announcement of the tournament winner at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wTDxwnpjdZs

Photo of Councilmember Penny Sweet holding Sort Smart certificate by recycling dumpster

Congratulations Ridgeview Heights! 

Facts about the tournament:

  • 9 properties competed
  • 517 households participated
  • All properties reduced waste and reduced contamination in recycling and composting
  • Garbage was reduced by 37%
  • Recycling was increased by 30%
  • Composting was increased by 236%
  • The top item households had trouble with were plastic bags. Plastic bags are not allowed in the compost or recycling!

 

 

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