What the City of Austin is doing to reduce plastic waste
In 2018, City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to address plastic waste. Plastic waste is problematic for many reasons. This global commitment seeks to create a circular economy for plastic by rethinking how we make, use and reuse plastic.
In 2020, the City of Austin joined the U.S. Plastics Pact. The pact brings together organizations from across the plastic supply chain to end plastic waste in the US. It includes brands, retailers, government agencies, recyclers and more.
How can you help at home?
- Schedule an appointment to drop off hard-to-recycle items to the Recycle and Reuse Drop-Off Center.
- Find multiple purposes for the plastic you must use.
- Keep items like plastic bags and Styrofoam out of your blue recycling cart. Use the What Do I Do With... tool to find out where to put unwanted items.
- Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook for the latest news on City programs and initiatives.
How can you help the community?
- Bring your own shopping and produce bags and use bulk bins at the grocery store. Check with your local store to learn more about weighing items.
- Bring your own thermos or coffee mug to your local coffee shop.
- Bring your own container to take home leftovers from a restaurant.
- Avoid using straws or opt for reusable alternatives.
- Avoid using disposable utensils with your to-go orders.
How is the City of Austin, as an organization, helping?
- Tracking and reducing purchases that contain problematic plastics, as defined by the US Plastic Pact.
- Educating and training City staff in order to purchase fewer items. Also, hosting educational events that are better for people and the planet.
- Creating educational resources and guides for purchasing within the organization.
- Prioritizing a sustainable purchasing plan.
- Expanding composting services at City of Austin facilities.
- Collecting plastic film and foam from warehouse operations.
What happens to your plastic after you put it in your blue cart?
Austin Resource Recovery trucks collect recycling from over 200,000 homes and transport it to a local Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for processing. At the MRF, recyclables undergo sorting by different materials using specialized equipment. The sorted materials are then baled and sold to other businesses, which transform them into new products. While some parts of the country face challenges in processing and selling recyclables, Austin's processors have assured us that we are fortunate to have steady markets.
What do Austin's plastic recyclables become?
- Plastic water bottles are recycled into other beverage bottles or can be used for polyester in products such as clothing, carpets, or backpacks.
- Milk jugs are recycled into new bottles.
- Detergent bottles are recycled into buckets, containers and flower pots.
- Shampoo bottles are recycled into flooring.
- Yogurt containers are recycled into bicycle racks and plant pots.
