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WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON ZERO WASTE?

Earlier this year, by adopting the State’s first Zero Waste Plan for a Texas community, the City of Austin took an important step to move toward a more sustainable future. But, Austin, we need your help.

Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste Austinites send to the landfill by 90% by the year 2040 and we can’t do it without your participation. Take a moment to read the approved Zero Waste Plan. Think about how your daily activities fit into the Plan. Are you recycling? Are you thinking about the items you purchase? Are you composting? We invite all Austin residents and businesses to join us in making Austin a leader among Zero Waste communities.

Read the approved Zero Waste Plan

The Plan addresses both upstream and downstream policy and program options; green business, green buildings, and jobs; as well as regional coordination.

Austin's Zero Waste Plan takes into consideration Austin's current and planned public and private solid waste infrastructure, as well as our city's Climate Protection Program. Recommendations developed through this process are integral to achieve the U.N. Urban Environmental Accord's goal to reduce by 20% the per capita solid waste disposal to landfills by 2012 and Zero Waste by 2040.

To implement the Zero Waste Plan, Austin will focus first on:

• Leading by example. Evaluate departmental waste streams for baseline data and future monitoring within one year of adoption of the Plan. Within three years of adoption of the Plan, frame, develop and implement, where appropriate and feasible, waste diversion programs with input from City Departments.
• Evaluating the Commercial and Multi-family Recycling Regulations. Consider and implement proactive education and enforcement methods for the Commercial and Multi-family Recycling regulations. Develop and present to City Council City Code amendments as necessary to require recycling at all commercial enterprises and multi-family residences and include them in the stakeholder process. The proposed City Code amendments should become effective in phases over a three year period.
• Outreach. Reach out to institutions, industrial facilities, and manufacturers, to encourage them to adopt and implement zero waste goals.
• Promoting composting. Promote composting to remove organic material and compostables from landfills, which is necessary to reduce methane and carbon emissions. First, identify the best strategies to promote on-site composting at work and home. Second, evaluate infrastructure for residential curbside, commercial, and institutional composting; develop strategies to increase composting capacity; and implement a pilot curbside composting program when composting capacity is available.