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 into the residential recycling carts to be sorted.
While many Austinites do a great job of putting recyclable it…
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…
By: Keri Greenwalt and Susanne Harm
Do you ever wonder what happens to all the stuff you put into your blue recycling cart after it’s picked up at the curb? With global markets and recycling technology quickly evolving, it can be difficult to keep track, but recycling has many benefits. Let’s toss out the myths and shed some light on recycling, so you can feel good about showing your blue cart some love today and every day.
MYTH: Everything can be thrown into the trash c…
Over one third of all food produced in the U.S. is never eaten, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That wasted food often ends up in landfills where it is released as methane gas that contributes to climate change. 8-9% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste in landfills. By keeping food out of the landfill, we can help protect our planet, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our own backyard, and conserve important resources like labor, land, water and energy that are used to grow, package and transport food.
Taking everyday steps to reduce food waste can also help you save money. Every year, Americans lose more than…
By: Nolan Fleming
The Holidays are in full swing. Along with all the joy and merriment, they can also bring a lot of extra waste! In fact, the United States generates 25 percent more waste during the holiday season. Here are some ways you can put a freeze on the issue and spread some eco-friendly cheer.
Gifts
Think back on the Holidays last year and the gifts you received. How many of those gifts do you actually use to this day? The gifts that stand out to me have always been experiences or a story to share with friends and family. This year, consider giving the gift of a great story t…