By Jeff Patterson
You probably don’t think much about tossing out leftovers or food that is past its “sell-by” date. Unfortunately, throwing away unconsumed food contributes to a larger collective problem of food waste. All told, some 1.24 million pounds of food are wasted every day in the Austin area.
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By Michael Taylor
Styrofoam doesn’t go in your blue recycling cart, and it does not belong in your trash cart or dumpster. Since it isn’t biodegradable, Styrofoam winds up in landfills and can take hundreds of years to break down. So where does it go?
You can make an appointment to drop it off at the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center. The center is located just south of downtown Austin on Business Center Drive.
At the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center, a specialize…
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By Michael Taylor
Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) collects the contents of blue, residential recycling carts and hauls them to a local recycling facility, known as a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). From there, the MRF handles sorting the materials for shipment to an end-user. This relationship between ARR and the MRF means that both have a first-hand account of what is being put…
By Michael Taylor
20 percent of the material that is collected in Austin’s blue recycling carts can’t be recycled curbside. Contamination occurs when we put non-recyclable materials or trash into our blue recycling carts, which can cause major issues later on at the recycling facility. One of the largest contaminants? “Tanglers
Tanglers are materials that physically cause tangling issues in the recycling process. These include items like plastic bags, trash bags, garden hoses, stri…
By Brianna Linn
The fall season brings festive activities such as pumpkin picking, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating. While this spooky season delights many, it also contributes significantly to landfill waste. Here are some creative ways to enjoy this time of year while minimizing waste:
Spooky zero waste décor
To add a touch of fall to home décor, consider finding or DIYing decorations. Many natural materials are readily available and can spruce up any space without costing money!
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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 l…
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By Brianna Linn
The City of Austin's Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling Ordinance requires general contractors to reuse or recycle construction debris. An efficient recycling program can help save money while meeting the City’s requirements.
Use these tips to create a successful recycling program at your project site.
Plan ahead
Determine what type(s) of waste the project will generate during each phase. This will help you figure out which processors,…
By Brianna Linn
It's that time of year again when school zone signs flash and teachers and parents get ready for a new school year. As a parent, packing your kid's lunch often includes single-use plastic bags, disposable silverware, wax-coated juice boxes and other hard-to-recycle items that typically end up in the landfill. If you want to reduce that waste this year, here are some easy ways to make your kid's lunch environment friendly.
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By Brianna Linn
It’s no secret that summer has made its way to Austin; the kids are out of school, Barton Springs is packed with visitors and the familiar smell of barbeque fills the evening air. This season comes with many fun-filled activities like pool parties, family reunions, and holiday celebrations. Hosting a party is no easy feat, and it's so important to remember how the food you serve and how your dispose of it can impact the City of Austin’s z…
By Allison Strupeck
Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) is a proud part of the U.S. Plastics Pact which is now in an ambitious phase. The Pact’s enhanced strategic plan, Roadmap 2.0, aims to accelerate the creation of a circular economy where plastic packaging is reused, recycled, composted and kept within the economy—instead of becoming waste.
The nationwide plan features five targets:
- Eliminate all items o…