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 that needs to be answered is how to include multifamily residences in the initiative. At […]
City of Austin Zero Waste Advisory Commission
An Austin City Council advisory commission. Its members are charged to “[r]eview and analyze the policies and resources relating to solid waste management in the city and advise council on solid waste management policies and resources.” Formerly the Solid Waste Advisory Commission.
Posted inCity Hall
Council to consider changes for waste disposal contracts
A series of recommendations made by a City Council working group seeks to address concerns from environmentalists and private waste haulers about how the city chooses the companies it pays to pick up and dispose of waste generated by its own employees and departments, from wastepaper bins at City Hall to giant piles of sludge […]
Posted inResources
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 said one of the more important findings indicated that knowledge of what can be recycled […]
Posted inResources
ZWAC rejects Republic contract renewal again
In a bit of bureaucratic acrobatics during its Feb. 8 meeting, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted to rescind a November recommendation against the proposed renewal of the Republic Services solid waste collection services contract for city facilities, so that it could recommend against it again with updated rationale. City Council will consider that updated […]
Posted inResources
ZWAC approves organics processing contract with lackluster contingency plan
In line with City Council’s plans to expand curbside compost collection, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted at its Feb. 8 meeting to approve staff’s recommendation of Organics By Gosh, the only bidder on the request for proposal released by Council last year, for a 36-month, $1,510,000 contract to provide additional organics processing services. The […]
Posted inResources
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 its Zero Waste initiative. Current recycling efforts have succeeded in diverting 43 percent of the […]
Posted inParks
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 Recreation Department, the city agency one might expect to embrace green living most fervently, has […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 from ZWAC that the new Office of Performance Management prioritize a performance and budget review […]
Posted inRadio
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 and former chair Rick Cofer to discuss those same issues. Sponsored by Austin Water. Show […]
Posted inResources
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 action. But even the specter of the resolution caused problems. Carol Guthrie, executive director of […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
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 aimed at gauging opinion and awareness of the May referendum prompted by the two companies […]
Posted inCity Council
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 the Harvard school for new mayors. Council members Ora Houston and Don Zimmerman championed the […]