Tag Archives: City of Austin Zero Waste Advisory Commission
Push to expand city composting continues
Austin has made major progress in its efforts to reduce the amount of trash it sends to landfills, but the city will have to make a big change if it wants to realize the ambitious goals it has set through…
Resources • By Jack Craver • Jul 20, 2016
Why don't Austin parks have recycling bins?
All commercial properties in Austin will be required by October of next year to have on-site recycling containers, but the same is not true of all properties owned by the government that put the requirement in place. The Parks and…
Parks • By Jack Craver • Jul 15, 2016
No third-party audit likely for Resource Recovery
Members of the City Council Audit and Finance Committee declined Monday to endorse a recommendation from the Zero Waste Advisory Commission that the city hire an independent third party to audit Austin Resource Recovery. However, they did endorse a recommendation…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2016
Austin Monitor Radio: Austin Resource Recovery budget concerns
Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin sits down first with Austin Resource Recovery director Bob Gedert to discuss budget concerns raised by the city’s Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZAWC). Then Kanin sits with Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) chair Gerry Acuna…
Radio • By Michael Kanin • Mar 21, 2016
Privatization questions rankle union, expose rift between commission and city staff
A resolution that would explore the idea of a public-private partnership for collection of residential garbage, recycling and yard trimmings stalled out Wednesday night at the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, where commissioners opted to table the resolution and take no…
Resources • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 11, 2016
Reporter's Notebook: Same as it ever was
Sharing information… An Austin Monitor reporter received a call Friday from a polling firm conducting a survey on the ongoing debate in Austin over ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft. During a six-minute call, the caller asked a series of questions…
Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Mar 7, 2016
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Council rejects Austin Energy waste contract
Responding to environmental concerns, City Council on Thursday unanimously rejected staff’s recommendation that the city extend a contract with Republic Services to dispose of nonhazardous industrial waste generated by Austin Energy. Mayor Steve Adler was out of the city at…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 11, 2015
Commission wants hazard pay for Resource Recovery employees
Municipal waste management is an essential job, but it comes with its fair share of risks. With that in mind, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission asked Austin Resource Recovery Department management Wednesday to study and consider ways to improve safety…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 16, 2015
Plastic bag ban working to an extent, says report
Austin’s single-use bag ordinance is helping residents reduce overall consumption by about 197 million single-use bags per year, but it has had unintended consequences including an increase in the number of thicker reusable bags in the recycling stream. That’s according…
Environment • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 12, 2015
Almost half of Austin curbside trash recyclable
Despite the city’s ambitious goal to achieve zero waste by 2040, many Austin residents are sending items to landfills that they could be putting into the city’s blue recycling bins. Austin Resource Recovery Department Director Robert Gedert told members of…
Environment • By Tyler Whitson • May 18, 2015
City orders study on bag ban that state may toss
Amid concerns that state leadership will take steps to limit city ordinances such as Austin’s plastic bag ban, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission has instructed city staff to study the ban in time to send the results to the state…
City Hall • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 16, 2015
Ethics complaints could get a clearer path
City Council Member Mike Martinez is working on a resolution that could change how the city deals with ethics complaints against those who serve on its boards and commissions. The changes come after Martinez’s Zero Waste Advisory Commission appointee, Daniela Ochoa…
