Webinar Recap | Bin Labels & Signage

Original Air Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 @ 1:00pm ET

This webinar featured two separate case study presentations. Evelyn Amara Ferreira with the San Francisco International Airport reviewed their work to research, test and refine the messaging used on bins across throughout the airport, and Arizona State University’s Molly Longton described their system for tailoring labels to the unique waste profiles of different settings while maintaining a uniform design standard.

Moderated by:

ALEC COOLEY, Senior Advisor @ Busch Systems

Author:

Speaker Panel

EVELYN AMARA FERREIRA

Zero Waste & Compliance Lead @ San Francisco International Airport

MOLLY LONGTON

Program Manager, University Sustainability Practices @ Arizona State University

ALEC COOLEY

Senior Advisor @ Busch Systems

Downloads and Resources

View/Download the Webinar Slidedeck

CLICK HERE to view/download a PDF version of the presentation slides from all presenters used in the live webinar

Resources from Evelyn Ferreira; SFO Presentation

Click here for SFO’s Zero Waste “Roadmap.”

Click here for SFO’s sustainability website with impact dashboard, climate action plans, and annual reports among other things.

Resources from Molly Longton; ASU Presentation

Click here for Arizona State’s bin and signage design guidelines.

Click here for ASU’s Zero Waste homepage.

Research About Designing Effective Labels & Signage

Click here for a 2018 Penn State study comparing recycling and compost signage messaging.

Click here for a 2018 University of British Columbia study about the use of words and images on signage.

Click here for Alec Cooley’s 3-part blog series reviewing studies on the advantages of words vs images on bin signage.

Click here for the Recycling Partnership report on focus group results and best practices for residential recycling signage and educational materials.

Click here for a Portland Metro focus group research testing multi-family signage.

Click here for Alec Cooley’s blog reviewing research about signage placed at eye level.

Click here for a database of academic studies related to bin & signage design.

General Resources

Click here for a link to CalRecycle’s webpage about California SB 1383 regulations about bin color and labels.

Click here for a Portland Metro guidebook with design and messaging standards for multi-family recycling programs.

Click here for Portland Metro focus group research about Spanish-speaking residents beliefs and perceptions about recycling and recommendations for messaging to Hispanic populations.