For a landscape facility at an apartment complex, how many trashcans would you recommend per building?

Hello, I’m a landscape design specialist who has spent years helping apartment communities keep their outdoor spaces both beautiful and functional. When a property manager recently asked me, “For a landscape facility at an apartment complex, how many trashcans would you recommend per building?” I knew this wasn’t a one-size-fits-all answer—it’s a delightful puzzle that balances resident habits, maintenance efficiency, and visual appeal. Let me walk you through my thinking as if I were advising a friend.

First, I always start by asking: How many units are in that building? For a standard low-rise with 8 to 12 units, I’d recommend two trashcans placed at key nodes: one near the main entrance and another along a common walkway or near the mail area. This prevents overflow during busy move-in or holiday seasons without making the landscape look cluttered. For mid-rise buildings with 20 to 40 units, three trashcans work beautifully—one at each main pedestrian junction and a discreetly placed bin near the dumpster access or back-of-house area.

Second, I consider foot traffic patterns. Watch where residents naturally congregate: the path from the parking lot to the building, the bench by the garden, or the corner where dog walkers pause. These spots reveal themselves if you observe for a week. Placing a trashcan at these high-traffic decision points prevents litter from reaching the landscaping. I always advise adding one extra bin per building if there’s a communal amenity like a pet station or a seating area; that pushes the total to three or four for larger configurations.

Third, maintenance rhythm matters. If your team empties bins daily, you can get away with fewer cans. But if pickups happen every other day—common in many complexes—you need capacity to handle waste buildup, especially on weekends. In that case, I recommend roughly one trashcan per 8 to 10 units per building as a baseline, then round up. So a 16-unit building would get two cans, a 24-unit building three, and a 40-unit building four or five, with one always placed near the building entrance.

Lastly, let’s talk aesthetics. You don’t want rows of trashcans spoiling your landscape facility. Choose bins in earthy tones or with green enclosures that blend with shrubbery. Position them slightly off the main sightline but within 50 feet of the building door. And always leave a buffer of at least three feet from flowerbeds to prevent spill damage.

In my experience, a good rule of thumb is: two bins for buildings under 15 units, three for 15 to 30 units, and four for 30 to 50 units. Test this for two weeks, then adjust based on actual overflow. Your landscape facility will stay pristine, and your residents will feel cared for—because when a trashcan is exactly where they need it, they notice the thoughtfulness.