Austin has a goal of reaching zero waste by 2040. To help meet this goal, the City of Austin requires multifamily properties to provide their residents and staff with convenient access to composting collection, effective October 1, 2024. This includes apartments, non-state dorms, condos, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
Ask your property manager when they will begin composting collection service if it is not available yet at your property. To learn about the composting requirements for multifamily properties, visit austintexas.gov/multifamilycompost.
What can be composted?
- Food Scraps
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- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy
- Bread
- Meat
- Seafood
- Bones
- Food-soiled paper
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- Pizza boxes
- Paper bags
- Paper plates or cups (100% paper products only.)
- Coffee filters
- Cardboard
- Napkins
- Paper towels
- Paper take-out containers and boxes (100% paper only. No plastic or wax coating.)
- Newspaper
- Tissues
- Natural fibers
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- Popsicle sticks
- Toothpicks
- Wooden chopsticks
- Shredded paper (Place in paper bag.)
- Untreated wood
- Plant material
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- Flowers
- Plants
- Leaves
- Grass clippings
- Small branches
- BPI-certified compostable products
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- Bags
- Cups
- Plates
- Forks
- Spoons
Products must have the BPI-Certified logo included on them to be compostable.
BPI-Certified compostable bags have been tested and approved by Biodegradable Product Institute scientists to ensure they will break down completely, quickly and safely during the composting process. Look for the BPI logo on the box (or ASTM-D6400 posted in product details) when purchasing compostable bags and other compostable items. If the compostable bags or item you want to purchase do not list this certification, they may not actually be compostable. Beware of marketing for “biodegradable” products, unless they meet the standard above, they are not accepted at local commercial facilities.
- Keep these items out of your composting
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Unaccepted items do not break down naturally. They cause significant problems for the composting process, and they add to the cost of this service! Some items also cause a safety hazard for collection- and material-processing crews.
- Glass
- Plastic and plastic bags
- Liquids
- Styrofoam
- Waxy paper
- Metal
- Animal waste
Keep everything clean
Follow these tips to help reduce odors and moisture and keep pests away from your kitchen collector, which is any small container that is reusable and can be sealed closed (like a coffee can or a plastic tub with a lid).
- Use your own reusable container
- Collect food scraps in a paper or BPI-certified compostable bag—or wrap food scraps in a paper towel or newspaper.
- Sprinkle with baking soda.
- Freeze or refrigerate until collection day.
- Wash your reusable container regularly.
Use our “What Do I Do With...?” tool to learn where to dispose of an item.
Talk to your property manager if the composting services in your community could improve. This includes more signs, composting carts or resident education.
What other actions help Austin reach zero waste?
- Share composting resources
Download the apartment and condo composting tip sheet and distribute it to residents. - Recycle at your property
Learn what is recyclable and use the recycling services provided by your property. This includes recycling paper, cardboard, metal, glass and hard plastics. - Lead zero waste efforts in your multifamily community
Become a Zero Waste Block Leader to help your apartment, dorm, or condo community lead the way in reusing, recycling and composting. - Reuse or donate items
Use the Austin Reuse Directory to learn where to donate, resell, rent and repair items - Drop off hard-to-recycle or hazardous materials
Take batteries, electronics, plastic bags, Styrofoam, paint and other hard-to-recycle items to Austin’s Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Appointments are required. The service is free for Austin and Travis County residents.
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