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.
Why compost?
A recent study showed that almost half of everything residential customers send to the landfill could have been composted. Compostable material cannot break down in a landfill, as it would in nature or in a compost pile. Instead, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing harmful methane into the atmosphere. Organic material placed in green carts is transported to a local facility, where it breaks down into compost, and can be used to help soil retain water and fertilize lawns and gardens without chemicals.
Collection guidelines
- Place your composting cart at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on your collection day.
- Place carts five feet apart, with the lids fully closed, to allow our automated trucks to collect materials safely and efficiently.
- Do not block bike lanes or sidewalks. Place carts for collection following proper set-out guidelines.
- We will collect the contents of your green cart and up to 15 extra items placed beside the cart (including lawn and leaf bags, reusable containers and piles of small branches):
- Extra composting material that does not fit into your green cart with the lid closed should be placed in paper lawn and leaf bags or a reusable container (no larger than 34 gallons and no heavier than 50 pounds) and placed beside the cart.
- Small branches (no longer than five feet and no thicker than three inches in diameter) that do not fit into the green cart with the lid closed should be stacked into manageable piles no heavier than 30 pounds. (Large brush and tree limbs longer than five feet and thicker than three inches in diameter can be collected from your home up to three times a year with an appointment or dropped off at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant at no charge.)
- Extra composting material over 15 items can be set out the following week. Yard trimming items like tree limbs, branches, shrubs and leaves can also be dropped off at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. (Note that Hornsby Bend will not accept items like food waste; only yard waste can be dropped off at that location.)
- Material placed at the curb in plastic bags will be collected as trash and will be subject to extra trash fees.
- Did we miss your cart? Call Austin 3-1-1 or send us an e-mail within two days of the missed collection. We will come by to pick up the material as soon as possible.
- Return trip composting collection service can be scheduled for a fee of $20.50. Call 3-1-1 or send us an e-mail to schedule.
Learn how to compost
Read our comprehensive guide to learn everything you need to know about curbside composting in Austin. Watch these short videos to get quick tips:
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