By: Alexandra Mascareno
Have a seat at your favorite restaurant and what do you see? Silverware enveloped in neatly folded linens, a tiny centerpiece with fresh flowers, cute dinner plates and ice cold water. You take a sip and…wait, something’s missing! You take another sip and think about what it could be when finally, it hits you — your straw is missing. More and more these tiny pieces of plastic are disappearing from restaurants around the world.
So, what’s the deal with str…
By: Keri Greenwalt
There has been a lot of talk about plastic bags since Austin’s ordinance was overturned this past summer. With so much chatter it can be difficult to figure out the facts. Let’s sort it out so we can stop the myths from blowing around like a stray plastic bag in the wind.
Myth: The City of Austin no longer cares whether I bring my own reusable bags when I shop or if I opt for singl…
By: Susanne Harm
A cornerstone of East Austin for more than four decades, Montopolis Park will soon experience a metamorphosis. The timeworn recreation building will undergo a transformation into the new, full-fledged Montopolis Recreation and Community Center. It’s already a charming place for nearby residents to recreate, celebrate and meet their neighbors, but after long-planned renovations are complete, this 6.4 acre park will evolve into a crown jewel o…
By: Valerie Vines & Ashley Pace
On our current path, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, so something’s got to change. Austin is taking the next step, but this time, we are taking our commitment global. Along with over 350 businesses, organizations and governments, Austin has joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment with the g…
By: Keri Greenwalt
Father’s Day is just around the corner and Dad deserves a gift that honors him, without creating extra clutter. If he’s not in need of another mug, pair of socks or tie, here are some Zero Waste ideas both Dad and the planet will love.
Spend quality time together
Focus on what your Dad enjoys the most and make arrangements to spend the day together doing something he loves. Concert tickets, a round of golf, a nice dinner, kayak rentals or a night of bowling make great g…
By: Bailey Grimmett
Thanksgiving brings together family, friends and communities. It also brings with it a lot of hungry guests, food and place settings. If you are scrambling to find reusable dishware for your holiday hosting, there’s a new service in town that’s here to help.
The Austin Dish Lending Library is a new, local service that provides Austin area residents with reusable alternatives to single-use dishes and utensils. What does that mean? Well, it’s exactly like a libr…
By: Thomas Nguyen
Did you know?
It takes 5,300 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans and a t-shirt. That’s the equivalent of how much fuel it takes to fly a Boeing 737 from Austin to the heart of the Amazon Rainforest!
Welcome back to our Circular Innovators series. In this series, we’ll be highlighting Austin businesses that are embracing the circular economy; reducing waste and creating value for their customers and the planet.
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By: Bailey Grimmett
The City of Austin Service Design Lab recently launched a garbage collection pilot aimed at reducing the amount of trash and litter build-up in select areas within the City. The big idea? To provide trash bags – violet trash bags – and garbage collection services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
The Violet Bag Program is a six-week pilot wherein violet trash bags and drop-off stations are available at four select areas in the city know…
By: Thomas Nguyen
Did you know?
The average textile dye used for clothing is made up of 8,000 synthetic chemicals and after the dyeing process, many factories and mills will dump the excess into water streams.
Welcome back to our Circular Innovators series. In this series, we’ll be highlighting Austin businesses that are embracing the circular economy; reducing waste and creating value for their customers and the planet.
What is Biomimicry?
What is biomimicry? If we break it down, bio = life; mimicr…
By: Andy Dawson and Bailey Grimmett
If you haven’t heard, there’s a colorful way to reuse in Austin. The Diverting Resources for Artistic Works program (DRAW) is an Austin Resource Recovery service aimed at reusing and extending the lives of art supplies such as acrylic paints, canvases, brushes and related items. Located at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center (RRDOC), and as an expansion of the center’s ReUse Store, DRAW is a resource aimed at offering barely-used art supplies to local residents in creative need.
The RRDOC collects all kinds…