Compost Like A Pro at your Multifamily Property
By Allison Strupeck
If you chose Austin for your apartment or condo, you probably already feel pretty lucky to live in such a unique town with a great vibe. And now the city of Austin is one of the only U.S. cities to ensure multifamily residents can easily compost at home!
As of October 1, 2024, the City of Austin requires multifamily properties—including apartments, condos, non-state dorms, assisted living facilities and nursing homes—to provide their residents and employees with convenient access to commercial composting collection. And with more than half a million Austin residents living in these types of properties, there’s an opportunity for a lot of composting. The new requirement may help move Austin forward towards its zero waste goal.
Composting is the process of “recycling” organic materials such as food waste, plant material and paper products. The process keeps these organic materials out of the trash and turns it into a resource. So, if can you compost fruits and veggies? Of course. Meat and seafood? Yep. Pizza boxes and coffee filters? You betcha. To learn whether an item can be composted or not, visit our curbside composting guide. For a general rule of thumb, if it grows, it goes into your green composting cart!
What does this ordinance look like at a property?
Multifamily properties must place a compost container within 25 feet of each landfill trash container on their property and ensure their licensed hauler removes the compost every week.
As a participating resident, you’ll be asked to collect your food scraps at home in a container and dispose of them in the composting container ahead of collection. To collect food scraps, use a reusable container (make sure it has a lid) such as a kitchen collector. The container can be lined it with paper towels, newspaper and/or a BPI-certified compostable bag. Pro tip: Try sprinkling the food scraps with baking soda and refrigerating/freezing them until your curbside collection day.
If you’re not sure how to compost in an apartment or condo, we’re here to help—and so is your property manager! Your property is expected to educate its residents about composting services through ongoing outreach such as videos, emails, maps and signs.
Why does composting matter?
When organic material is dumped into landfills instead of being composted, the items release methane gas. Methane gas warms and harms the atmosphere over time. Multifamily residents and employees are encouraged to take advantage of this new, easy access to composting services. With your help as a participating resident, Austin will be cleaner and more sustainable!
Don’t see composting yet at your property? Ask your property manager when they plan to begin the service. Are you passionate about zero waste? Consider becoming a Zero Waste Block Leader to help motivate Austinites about composting, recycling and reusing!