AUSTIN, TEXAS – Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), a department of the City of Austin, announces the fourth and final expansion of the Curbside Composting Collection Program to approximately 55,000 additional Austin households to begin in February.

Currently, about 152,000 homes receive the curbside composting collection service. This final expansion will provide the service to all remaining ARR customers after a four-year phased in approach that began in 2017. In previous years, ARR offered in-person open house events giving new curbside composting customers the opportunity to learn about the program, learn how to use the service and receive free resources to start composting. This year, in order to adhere to COVID-19 safety regulations, we will hold a virtual townhall and will delay the opportunity to distribute free kitchen collectors and compostable bags until it can be done safely for both customers and staff.

“We are very excited to complete the expansion of our Curbside Composting Program,” said Austin Resource Recovery Director Ken Snipes. “Keeping compostable items out of area landfills will extend the life of the landfills, improve Austin's air quality, and reduce harmful greenhouse gases.”
 
A recent study showed that nearly half of material residential customers send to the landfill is compostable. The Curbside Composting Program collects food scraps, yard trimmings and food-soiled paper, and converts them into nutrient-rich compost. This program is part of the City of Austin’s zero waste goal to divert 90 percent of materials from landfills by 2040.

“As we enter a new year, it’s wonderful to share this good news,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens. “Providing every ARR customer with access to curbside composting empowers them to send less material to the landfill, which lowers our community’s emissions and creates a product that enriches our soil.”
 
Customers included in this year’s curbside composting expansion were mailed a notification postcard in early-January informing them of their new service and inviting them to participate in a virtual townhall in late January. Customers can search for their address using the Austin Recycles app and My Schedule tool at austinrecycles.com to see when their first collection will be.
 
Curbside Composting may also help Austinites save money on their utility bill. After putting food scraps and food-soiled paper in their green carts, customers will likely have less trash each week. This may allow them to downsize to a smaller, less expensive trash cart.
 
For more information about Curbside Composting, how to participate in the virtual townhall, resources and instructional videos visit austintexas.gov/composting.

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About Austin Resource Recovery
Austin Resource Recovery provides a wide range of services designed to transform waste into resources while keeping our community clean. Services include curbside collection of recycling, trash, yard trimming and large brush and bulk items; street sweeping; dead animal collection; household hazardous waste disposal and recycling; and outreach and education. In December 2011, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan, which is the City’s roadmap to Zero Waste. The City of Austin is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to area landfills by 90 percent by 2040 or sooner.