The Austin Circular Economy Program encourages the reuse, repair and recycling of all materials. The program seeks to keep materials in use for as long as possible, reducing the need to take new resources from the planet. Our team creates resources for businesses, residents and city operations to grow the local circular economy.
What is a circular economy?
A circular economy mimics nature by valuing everything as a resource and wasting nothing. In a circular economy, businesses and consumers reimagine how they design and use goods and services. A circular economy makes products in a way that is better for the planet and the community. Products are durable and can be taken apart and repaired. Materials used are safer, keep value after their original use, and are easier to recycle.
- Get circular resources for businesses and nonprofits
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Grow your circular business
- Email us to schedule a one-on-one appointment. We'll learn about your needs and connect you to resources to help your circular business or nonprofit grow.
- Add your organization to our interactive map that helps tell the story of Austin's circular economy.
- Update or add your organization to our directory if your organization accepts or sells used items, offers rental or repair services, provides refill options, or sells upcycled items.
- Use our Circular Economy Enterprise Resource Guide to discover local programs and services.
- Attend our next industry roundtable or meet-up to connect with like-minded business owners.
- Apply to Circular Austin Accelerator for the opportunity to improve your circular business idea.
- Apply to compete in Circular Austin Showcase to compete for a cash prize.
Start a circular business or adapt your business model
- Browse our Small Business Program resources to enroll in opportunities like classes and free one-on-one coaching.
- Use our Circular Economy Enterprise Resource Guide to learn how to adapt your business model.
- Apply for the Zero Waste Business Rebate if your business is eligible.
Find an outlet for your extra materials
Our team studied business textiles in 2019 to understand the waste stream. We thought of opportunities to capture the material’s value locally. Learn about ideas we considered and tested during this project. See the map of the urban circular textile material flow.
- Apply for REverse Pitch to find a partner that will help keep materials out of landfills.
Get financial assistance
- Small businesses can apply for the Family Business Loan Program.
- The Community Navigator Program offers applications for one-on-one coaching, virtual classes and receiving governmental support.
- The Business Retention and Expansion Program helps businesses seeking local expansions, targeted hiring and relocations.
- The Brownfields Revitalization environmental assessments aids property redevelopment goals.
- Eligible businesses can apply for the Zero Waste Business Rebate.
Connect with us
- Join us on Slack to meet circular business owners, discover funding opportunities and more.
- Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
- Support Austin's Circular Economy
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Residents play an important part in Austin’s circular economy. There are so many ways that you can change your consumption habits to help grow Austin's circular economy. Here's how you can help:
- Ditch single-use plastics.
- Develop skills to help you fix broken items.
- Learn how your shopping habits can support zero waste.
- Use the Austin Reuse Directory to find places to donate, thrift, rent, refill or repair items.
- Explore our interactive map to support local businesses that use circular business models.
- Volunteer for MoveOutATX to help local university students donate items during move out season.
- Learn more about what the City of Austin is doing to reduce plastic waste.
The Circular Economy Program is a partnership between Austin Resource Recovery and the Economic Development Department.
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