Cans of paint

PROGRAMS

The Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office (ABRO) helps community-oriented developers address environmental obstacles to fulfill property redevelopment goals. We offer no-cost environmental site assessments.

Austin ReBlend is a 100 percent post-consumer, reblended flat paint (with low VOCs) made from paint collected at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.

The Circular Economy Program aims to make Austin the most vibrant circular economy in the United States; where materials are reused, repaired, shared and recycled to their fullest extent within the local economy. This program offers resources to both businesses and residents in order to help grow the local circular economy.

The Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling Ordinance requires affected construction and demolition projects to divert construction and demolition debris from the landfill. General contractors must reuse or recycle at least 50% of the construction and demolition debris from affected projects.  Alternatively, they can landfill less than 2.5 pounds of debris per square foot of floor area.

The Curbside Composting Collection Program collects food scraps, yard trimmings, food-soiled paper and natural fibers, and converts them into nutrient-rich compost. Because materials are processed in a commercial composting facility, extremely high temperatures are reached, allowing Austinites to compost items like meat, dairy, seafood and bones that typically cannot be composted in a backyard. This program is part of the City of Austin’s zero waste goal to divert 90% of materials from landfills by 2040. 

Austin Resource Recovery collection staff will remove dead animals from the public right of way within two business days of notification.

Don’t throw away your holiday tree; give it another life by recycling it! Starting December 26, City of Austin curbside customers can recycle their Christmas and holiday trees by leaving them at the curb on their regular collection day. All other residents can drop trees off at Zilker Park.

Beginning September 12, 2022, Austin Resource Recovery is conducting a pilot program to gather information about household hazardous waste (HHW) collection in the City of Austin. This program will be tested in Austin City Council Districts 4 and 10.

It will help the City understand the challenges related to the at-home collection of HHW. It will also allow the City to gauge the usability and benefits of the program.

The City of Austin will require commercial composting collection at all multifamily properties starting October 1, 2024. The Austin City Council approved the amendment to the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) on Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Beginning in early 2023, Austin Resource Recovery is conducting a pilot program to gather information about on-call brush collection in the City of Austin. This program will be tested in a limited area and will allow the City to gauge the usability and benefits of on-call brush collection as an alternative to the current bi-annual scheduled collection customers receive. 

Residents in the pilot area will still receive the same large brush collection service they always have, but they will choose when their collections take place rather than being given a collection schedule.

What the City of Austin is doing to reduce plastic waste

Austin has a goal of reaching zero waste by 2040. This means reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90%. You can help by reducing the trash you create, reusing or donating items and recycling in your home.

Special events within the City of Austin are required to submit waste management information as part of the Special Events Ordinance. Get information about obtaining a special event permit.

Austin Resource Recovery provides curbside collection of recycling to single-family households up to four-plexes in Austin. Place mixed paper, plastic, metal and glass directly in your blue recycling cart; no sorting is required!

The Soil Kitchen was an annual event in Austin, Texas, that provided a free opportunity for food growers to test what is in their soil. Soil testing helps food growers know what nutrients their soil may lack and if harmful heavy metals are present. The final Soil Kitchen event was held March 4, 2023 at Givens Recreation Center.

Austin Resource Recovery resumed standard operations for large brush collection on July 1, 2023. Customers normally receive two curbside collections per year.

The Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) supports Austin’s zero waste goal. The ordinance requires:

  • Commercial business owners and multifamily properties to ensure that all commercial tenants, multifamily residents and employees have access to recycling.

What Do I Do With is a guide to recycling, reusing, composting and more! City of Austin residential curbside customers may wonder what do with unwanted items. Search this list to answer those questions. Other Austinites and businesses can consult Earth911.com for additional resources and information.

Austin and Travis County residents can drop yard trimmings and large brush at Austin Water’s Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant (2210 FM 973, Austin, TX) 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday–Saturday.

The material will be composted and made into Dillo Dirt.

Zero Waste Block Leaders (ZWBLs) are engaged residents who are passionate about sustainability and zero waste. They offer their time and knowledge to their friends, families and neighbors. They share information about recycling, composting, repurposing and repairing.

The City of Austin’s Zero Waste Event Rebate is an incentive for organizers to make their outdoor events more sustainable and help reduce the amount of trash sent to area landfills. Earn up to $750 in rebates to expand or improve your zero waste program at your next event.