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Frequently Asked Questions
Home Composting Rebate Challenge
If you already use a 32-gallon trash cart you are eligible for the rebate as long as you take a City-sponsored composting class.
The City offers basic home composting classes around town free of charge. See the schedule of classes on the Home Composting Challenge webpage to sign up to attend a class. An online class is also available.
To sign up for a composting class, review the schedule of upcoming classes on the Home Composting Challenge webpage and click on the "Register Online" link.
Purchase any type of home composting system that will satisfy the needs of your household. Please consider buying locally and/or recycled content.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide rebates on home-built composters during this pilot rebate program. At this time, we do not have an efficient way of determining how those materials are being used. We hope to be able to include them in future rebate programs. This has been our answer to class attendees and we need to remain consistent on this issue.
You can mail your application and necessary information to:
ATTN: Composting Rebate Program
City of Austin-Austin Resource Recovery
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767
You can also email your application and receipt.
A check will be mailed to the address specified on your rebate application. Please allow 6-8 weeks for rebate processing.
To be eligible, you must be an Austin Resource Recovery customer that receives residential collection services including trash, recycling and yard trimmings collection.
Call 512-494-9400 and request to change your cart size. There is no fee to change to a smaller cart.
Residential Recycling Collection
Single Stream Recycling allows Austin Resource Recovery customers to mix recyclable paper, plastic, aluminum cans and glass in one bin. This method of curbside recycling is more convenient for residents because it does not requires sorting of items. Other advantages include:
- Reduced collection costs because collection can be automated, and collection routes can be serviced more efficiently
- Worker injuries may decrease because single stream means switching from bins to cart-based collection using trucks with automated lifts
- More paper grades can be collected, including food packaging (boxboard), junk mail, and mixed residential paper
- Paper: (newspaper, office paper, junk mail, envelopes, wrapping paper)
- Boxboard and cardboard: Corrugated cardboard and boxboard including:
- cereal boxes
- shoe boxes
- most gift boxes
- soda/beverage containers
- most food packaging containers such as boxes of macaroni and cheese, rice, microwave meals.
- Aluminum and metal cans: food cans (labels left on OK), soda cans
- Glass: Jars and bottles
- Plastic containers: # 1 through # 7, including yogurt and margarine tubs
- Plastic bags
- Aluminum foil
- Styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, take-out containers)
- Pizza boxes from take-out or delivery services
- Yard waste/leaves (set out for yard trimmings pick up)
- Food waste
- Garbage (you may be charged for extra garbage if you put garbage in your recycling cart)
- Helium tanks
- Large metal items such as frying pans and metal pipes
- Large plastic items (plastics that are gallon-sized or smaller are ok)
- Wire coat hangers (recycle at your local dry cleaners)
Why we can't take these items
The recycling processing facility uses an automated system to sort and bale the recyclables. Prohibited items will jam the automated machinery.
Your recyclables should be rinsed of food residue. All paper put into the cart must be dry.
96-gallons
If you cannot fit all of your recyclables in your cart, you may place additional items in a cardboard box or a reusable container. They will be picked up at no extra change.
To make more room in your cart, crush recyclables like cans, plastic jugs and bottles. Be sure to "break down" or flatten boxboard and corrugated cardboard so that it fits more easily into the cart.
Below is a brief description of the symbols. For more detailed information, visit the resin identification codes page of the American Chemistry Council Web site.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) or (PET): soft drink and water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter and salad dressing containers. It can be recycled into polar fleece clothing, fiber, tote bags, bottles, clothing, furniture, and carpet.
- High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): milk jugs, water and juice containers, liquid detergent bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs. It can be recycled into liquid laundry detergent containers, drainage pipe, oil bottles, recycling bins, benches, pens, doghouses, vitamin bottles, floor tile, picnic tables, lumber, mailbox posts, fencing.
- Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC): clear food packaging, shampoo bottles.
- Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): squeezable bottles (e.g. honey, mustard).
- Polypropylene (PP): ketchup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles.
- Polystyrene (PS): aspirin bottles, cups, plates.
- Other: Use of this code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than one resin used in combination. Plastics such as three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, clear baby food containers.
Austin Resource Recovery collects trash from almost 30,000 homes each day. Occasionally, crews miss a house. Sometimes the crews are not able to collect the material safely or a road hazard or blockage may prevent access. If there is a problem with the material that prevents collection, a notice will be left behind to let you know the problem.
If you haven’t received a notice and you placed the material at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your collection day:
- Leave the missed items at the curb and call Austin Resource Recovery at 3-1-1.
- You may contact us by e-mail. Please include your address, a contact number and the items that were missed. We will come by to pick up the missed material as soon as possible.
