Recycling games heat up

After a month, the first round of results from the Austin Recycles Games are in. At the moment, District 8 is in first place with a per-household average of 72.94 pounds of recycling in the first month. District 10 is in second place, and District 4 is in third. Currently, Central Austin’s District 9 is in last place, having recycled only 43.91 pounds per household on average over the past month, down from its October average of 55.90. In a press release about the increase, Austin Resource Recovery Director Bob Gedert was enthusiastic, saying, “There has been a significant increase in residential recycling since the announcement of the Austin Recycles Games. … Nine of the 10 council districts saw an increase and four of the 10 are currently surpassing the goal of recycling a minimum of 60 pounds per household! We are enthusiastic about the continuing success of the Recycles Games!” Overall, recycling averages have increased citywide over the past month, from an October 2015 average of 47.79 to a current average of 59 pounds. When the contest concludes in April, the most improved district and the district with the most recycling overall will both be crowned winners and receive a beautification project for a library or public park on Earth Day.