Recycling and Composting for Apartment and Condominium Residents
Austin aims to reach zero waste by 2040, reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90%. Multifamily properties in Austin are required to work with licensed private haulers to provide their residents with convenient access to composting and recycling collection. This includes apartments, condos, non-state dorms, assisted living facilities and nursing homes with five or more dwelling units.
Residents of apartments and other multifamily properties can help reach zero waste through recycling, composting, and reusing or donating items.
Acceptable items for apartment composting
BPI-certified compostable products
Products must carry the BPI-certified logo to be compostable.
- Bags
- Cups
- Forks
- Plates
- Spoons
Food scraps
- Fruits
- Bones
- Bread
- Coffee grounds
- Dairy
- Meat
- Seafood
- Vegetables
Food-soiled paper
- Cardboard
- Coffee filters
- Napkins
- Newspaper
- Paper bags
- Paper plates or cups (100% paper products only, unless stated otherwise by your property manager.)
- Paper take-out containers and boxes (100% paper only. No plastic or wax coating, unless stated otherwise by your property manager.)
- Paper towels
- Pizza boxes
- Tissues
Plant material
- Flowers
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Plants
- Small branches
Keep these items out of composting:
- Animal waste
- Glass
- Labels and stickers
- Liquids
- Plastic and plastic bags
- Styrofoam
- Twist ties and metal
- Waxy paper
When in doubt, use the city’s “What Do I Do With” tool to learn where to properly dispose of an item.
Keep everything clean
- Collect your food scraps and other compostable items in a paper or BPI-certified compostable bag. Store the bag in a kitchen compost collector or any reusable container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Follow your property manager’s instructions to take your compostable materials to the collection point at your multifamily community.
Prevent odors and pests
- Sprinkle your compostable materials with baking soda.
- Freeze or refrigerate your compostables until collection day.
- Keep your kitchen collector closed.
- Regularly empty and wash your kitchen collector.
Multifamily properties are required to provide composting collection and education to their residents.
- If your property has not started composting, contact your property management to ask when they plan to begin the service.
- If you have suggestions for improving the composting collection at your property or questions about the service, talk with your property management.
- If you have concerns about your property, such as potential compliance issues, you may contact Austin 3-1-1.
Acceptable items for apartment recycling
Cardboard
- Cardboard boxes
- Cereal boxes
- Paper towel rolls
- Shoe boxes
- Soda boxes
- Toilet paper rolls
Glass
- Glass bottles
- Glass jars
Hard Plastic
- Detergent bottles
- Jars and tubs
- Milk jugs
- Soda bottles
- Water bottles
Metal
- Aluminum foil baking pans
- Food cans
- Soda cans
- Steel and tin cans
Paper
- Coated paper products (cups, plates and takeout food containers)
- Envelopes
- Food and beverage cartons (aseptic and gable top)
- Glossy paper
- Home office paper
- Junk mail
- Magazines
- Paper bags
Keep these out of recycling
- Batteries
- Electronics
- Food-soiled paper
- Plastic bags
- Styrofoam
- Waxy paper
Actions you can take to help Austin reach zero waste
- Become a Zero Waste Block Leader to lead your multifamily community in reusing, recycling and composting.
- Use the Austin Reuse Directory to learn where to donate, resell, rent and repair items.
- Drop off hard-to-recycle or hazardous materials at the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center. Appointments are required.
- Stay informed about zero waste actions and events:
- Join Austin Resource Recovery at upcoming events
- Subscribe to the Austin Recycles e-newsletter
- Learn more about important topics on our Road to Zero Waste blog
- Follow ARR on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.