Downtown recycling program to expand

The pilot program featuring recycling cans at two downtown corners was a success, said Bob Gedert, director for Austin Resource Recovery.

"Pedestrians downtown wanted a recycling opportunity and we found a little bit of contamination but quite a bit of success in the use of these containers," Gedert said.

Gedert had special instructions for coffee drinkers who wish to recycle. He asked for styrofoam or non-recyclable paper cups to be thrown away but the sleeves and plastic lids to be placed in the recycling container.

Downtown garbage cans will now feature a sticker indicating that trash thrown away in that can will go to a landfill, Tovo said. The sticker will create awareness and hopefully cause people to make wiser recycling choices, she said.

Under the Universal Recycling Ordinance, all properties must provide recycling services to tenants and employees by Oct. 1, 2017.