10 Jul The Do’s and Don’ts of Recycling in Austin

Austin is working toward an incredibly ambitious goal – to be come a zero waste city by 2050. And the only way that is going to happen is if Austin residents work together to rethink waste.

In other words, we need a city full of recycling aficionados. Here's a little list of recycling do's and don'ts to get you well on your way to becoming the smartest, shmanciest recycling connoisseur on your block: 

Don’t:

Recycle cartons, at least not yet. Cartons are made up of a variety of materials (paper, plastic, aluminum) which makes them difficult to recycle, but more and more cities are starting to, so stay on the lookout. Austin might start to recycle them soon. 

Recycle pizza boxes. They are usually covered in cheese and tomato sauce, which can ruin a batch of perfectly good recyclable paper. However, if the top half of the pizza box managed to avoid food contamination, then rip off the top and throw that in the recycling bin. 

Put hangers and plastic bags in your single stream recycling bin. They can easily get stuck in the sorting equipment, forcing the entire machine to shut down while the problem is fixed. However, you can bring plastic bags to Ecology Action’s downtown recycling drop-off center. They will take them to a facility that can handle them.

Recycle beer tops. They are made of a mix of materials (not just metal) and therefore can’t be recycled.

Put batteries or electronics in your single stream recycling bin. The average recycling facility cannot handle batteries. However, you can take them to Austin Resource Recovery’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, where they will be properly recycled. The facility also accepts old cell phones, paint, fluorescent bulbs, aerosol cans, and outdoor grill propane cylinders. 

Put garden hoses in your single stream recycling bin. They tangle up the machinery and cause damage and lost processing time.

Do:

Recycle all paper, plastic, aluminum, metal, and glass that is not on the don’t list. If you have any lingering questions about whether or not an item is recyclable, check out Austin’s comprehensive, "What do I do with?" list here>>

Remember to utilize Austin’s many waste reduction resources. Check out the Reuse Store, where Austin Resource Recovery gives away new or slightly used items that other Austinites are done using. These can include automotive fluids, cleaning products, paint, solvents and other household cleaners.

Consider using Austin ReBlend Paint the next time you paint your house. ReBlend Paint is made from the paint brought to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, which otherwise would’ve been thrown away. Instead, it is given a second life as ReBlend Paint, which is given away for FREE to Austin residents.

Reduce the size of your trash cart. Did you know that the City of Austin offers four different trash cart sizes for single family homes? The majority of customers use the 64 gallon cart, which costs $19.75 a month, but if you really want to be a green leader, try downsizing to a 32 or 24 gallon cart. The price is much cheaper and you can compensate for the smaller trash can by upping your recycling game, which doesn’t cost extra. 

Take a free composting class with the City of Austin. Residents who complete the class are eligible for a $75 rebate for a home composting system of their very own. 

Join the “Give Us 5 Recycling Challenge.” Do your part to help Austin reach its zero waste goal by recycling 5 extra pounds this month. 

Become a Zero Waste Block Leader. Block Leaders are green-minded, active neighborhood residents who help spread the word about recycling in their neighborhoods. For more info>>