ARR is the city’s department responsible for collecting recycling, trash, yard trimmings and bulk items; street sweeping; picking up dead animals; and disposing of household hazardous waste materials.
In 2013, the city piloted a curbside compost collection program to pick up food scraps such as cooked or raw meat; bones and dairy products; paper napkins, plates and cups; pizza boxes; and yard trimmings. The new program is part of the city’s Zero Waste goal to divert 90 percent of materials from its landfills by 2040.
Last October, the program grew to serve 54,000 homes throughout Austin, and the latest expansion starting June 25 will bring the total number of households that can participate to 92,000.
Compost collection will be provided to all ARR customers by 2020, pending approval by City Council to fund the expansion.
“We have been very pleased with the response from our existing customers,” ARR interim Director Sam Angoori said. “We look forward to expanding this service citywide to all our customers, keeping even more material out of the landfill and helping Austin reach its Zero Waste Goal.”
Residents in the expansion area can expect to receive a postcard in late March from ARR about the new service along with an invitation to attend an open house to learn more details. At the open house, they will receive tips on what to put in their compost cart and receive a free kitchen food scraps collector and compostable bags.
More information is available at www.austinrecycles.com.
Tips from ARR to eliminate odor in your compost collector:
- Use a BPI-certified compostable bag to collect food scraps
- Layer food scraps with yard trimmings in the green cart
- Keep food scraps in the freezer until collection day
- Line the kitchen collector with a paper bag or cereal box
- Sprinkle baking soda in the kitchen collector and cart
- Wash kitchen collector and cart with mild soap and water
