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- Council members celebrate unanimous defeat of bill that proposed putting Austin under state control
- A once-banned type of building is back in favor – and the Planning Commission approves
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Austin Energy discusses how to resolve repercussions of water bill fiasco
It has been over a year since the water bill saga first made headlines in Austin. However, only now are city utilities releasing a post-mortem report designed to help them avoid a similar situation in the future. While the report…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 3, 2018
Zero Waste Advisory Commission buries landfill criteria matrix
Austin’s Zero Waste Advisory Commission met Wednesday night and voted to scrap a two-year effort at creating a matrix of criteria that could objectively evaluate landfills for city use. The commission was presented with two matrices — one developed by…
Resources • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 12, 2018
Garbage companies fight over landfill standards
Over the past two years, City Council has faced challenges in deciding who to pay to haul and dispose of the large amount of trash generated by city facilities. One of the big local trash players, Texas Disposal Systems, has…
Resources • By Jack Craver • May 7, 2018
Landfill fix on hold for now
Landfills exist comfortably outside of the public eye until something happens that reminds everyone that their upkeep is a critical component to keep our city functioning. On April 11, Tony Davee, a project manager with Austin Resource Recovery, came to…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 16, 2018
Dumpster contract headed to Council, hung up on lobbying ordinance rewrite
As City Council continues to debate the policies associated with the anti-lobbying ordinance, Austin solid waste contracts are beginning to expire with very little recourse for renewals. The latest casualty is city-owned facilities’ dumpster collection services. On Feb. 14, Austin…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 27, 2018
Once again, Austin's landfill criteria is back in discussion
Nobody wants their backyard to become a landfill. For nearly a year, Austin Resource Recovery has been redesigning the landfill criteria matrix that refuse companies will have to abide by going forward. Problem is, it seems that staff is caught…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 23, 2018
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Council rejects appeal of gas conservation fees
City Council on Thursday rejected an appeal from environmental and consumer activist Paul Robbins to overturn a staff decision to accept Texas Gas Service’s 2018 conservation adjustment clause rate. The conservation adjustment clause rate is the extra money consumers pay…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • Feb 7, 2018
Troxclair wants to know how rates compare to other Texas utilities
This year, the average Austinite will spend $2,475 on utility bills to cover the cost of electricity, water and garbage pickup. City Council Member Ellen Troxclair wants to know how that compares to what other people served by other utilities…
Resources • By Jack Craver • Feb 1, 2018
City composting may soon expand, go high-tech
A month after select Austin residents received their green compost bins to expand the city’s composting pilot program, the time has come to assess the success of the program’s reception. On Nov. 8, Emlea Chanslor, Austin Resource Recovery acting division…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Nov 14, 2017
Will city composting ever make it to multifamily residences?
Some people in Austin saw a new, green compost bin waiting at the curb when they arrived home from work this week. However, although the city of Austin’s single-family residence composting program is entering its next phase, the next question…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 29, 2017
Study offers a window into the lives of recyclers
Members of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission embraced the results of a six-month study intended to reveal the recycling habits of Austinites at their most recent meeting. Emlea Chanslor, Austin Resource Recovery public information officer, presented the study’s results. She…
Resources • By Sommer Brugal • Jun 26, 2017
Council approves composting contract despite Texas Disposal Systems objections
City Council approved a contract Thursday to dramatically expand the city’s curbside organics collection and composting program. The new contract builds upon the pilot program that has been in place for nearly four years. Under that program, Organics By Gosh,…
