Apartment managers take steps to educate their communities on composting
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By Allison Strupeck
Composting collection at apartments and other multifamily properties is a newer concept for most folks in Austin—including property managers.
Hiring a licensed hauler and providing convenient access to composting are just the first steps. By now, most multifamily properties in Austin have completed those steps, since the city rolled out the updated rules in Fall 2024.
As management, your next step is not just required—it is indeed, by city ordinance—but it also stands to make or break your composting program: effectively educating your communities about composting.
Multifamily property managers are responsible for ensuring your residents and staff understand the what, where, when and how of your composting program. (Plus, you have to summarize your educational efforts as part of the reporting requirement.)
This means getting them up to speed right away when they first start living at your property or working for you. Then re-educating everyone, every year. Updating them when there are program changes. Posting signs that meet city specs. And doing all of this in at least two languages.
The city has resources available to help busy managers tackle the composting learning curve. We’ve got educational videos for managers to use. Flyers. Templates. Signs in a bunch of languages. Software to customize your signs. Training logs and presentations. And so on.
Like anything, consistent communication will be super important in learning the basics of composting at apartments, condos and other multifamily properties. This was also true when recycling collection kicked off a few years back, which thankfully is becoming common knowledge with time and plenty of reminders.
Want to learn more best practices about managing composting collection? Check out this quick training the city did with the Austin Apartment Association in spring 2025. You’ve got this, property managers—and we’re here to answer questions that come up along the way!