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Changes to Austin’s Waste Collection for 2025

Illustration of a recycling truck in Austin collecting waste

News Summary

Austin Resource Recovery is implementing significant changes to waste collection in Fiscal Year 2025, focusing on improving sustainability and efficiency. With a plan to collect 260,375 tons of waste and divert 40% from landfills, these initiatives are aligned with Austin’s zero waste goals. The new on-demand collection system, set to launch in January 2025, will allow residents greater flexibility in scheduling bulk waste pickups. This updated approach aims to streamline waste management, increase recycling, and enhance composting efforts, contributing to a cleaner environment for the community.

Exciting Changes Ahead for Austin’s Waste Collection!

Austin residents, get ready for some big changes when it comes to how your waste is collected! The Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) is gearing up for its plans for Fiscal Year 2025 that promise to make waste management smoother and more sustainable. This is all part of the city’s commitment to its zero waste initiative, aiming to divert as much waste from landfills as possible.

What’s the Plan?

For the upcoming fiscal year, ARR plans to collect an impressive 260,375 tons of waste from both curbside pick-up and drop-off operations. This is a step up from last year’s collection of 251,294 tons. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it is! And even better news, they expect to divert around 40% of curbside collected materials from taking a one-way trip to the landfill. In FY 2024, Austin managed to divert only 37.04%. We’re making progress, folks!

How Is This Waste Managed?

The ARR categorizes waste like this: tons disposed, tons diverted, and tons composted. For FY 2025, it’s expected that 135,000 tons of curbside trash will still end up in landfills. However, there are plenty of opportunities to recycle or compost. Here’s the breakdown:

8,531 tons of curbside bulk waste will transition to an on-call collection service.
600 tons from household drop-off centers are set to be disposed of.
There’s also an estimated 10,865 tons of residual recycling materials that might not get recycled.

Let’s Talk Recycling!

A big highlight of the diversion efforts includes collecting about 51,135 tons of recyclables. This year, the Resource Recovery Center is on track to recycle or reuse around 1,800 tons of materials like cardboard and Styrofoam. Households can also do their part, with an expectation of 400 tons of useful items being recycled from drop-off operations!

Composting – The Green Way Forward

Composting continues to be a focal point of waste reduction in Austin. ARR is gearing up to compost 44,622 tons of curbside yard waste. That’s not all! They anticipate that 255 tons of bulk materials, such as electronics and even tires, can be recycled through curbside operations. How great is that?

Changes Coming for Curbside Collection

One of the most exciting new features is the on-demand collection system set to begin in January 2025. This will replace the old twice-a-year schedule for bulk waste collection. Now, residents can schedule up to three collections a year, making it super convenient to manage larger items! You can easily book your pick-up through the Austin Recycles app, the city’s website, or by dialing 311.

New Composting Contract and Future Efforts

The ARR is also working to secure a new compost processing contract. It looks like they’re facing a bit of a challenge because of rising bids from potential contractors. With the current contract running until late February, they are looking for an emergency, six-month extension in the meantime. Let’s hope they can finalize this soon!

Wrapping It Up

These changes aim to enhance community waste management efforts and make things a whole lot easier for residents. With more accessible options for disposing of waste and a focus on recycling and composting, Austin is paving the way toward a cleaner, greener future. So, get ready to do your part and utilize these new services. Together, we can all contribute to Austin’s zero waste goals!