Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), a department of the City of Austin, has released its Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report. From facility closures and service suspensions to environmental equity and weekly curbside collections, the report details the extensive work ARR accomplished while continuing to navigate COVID-19 and enduring Winter Storm Uri.
"Despite the challenges that accompanied the global COVID-19 pandemic – a national shortage of truck drivers, multiple service delays and suspensions, unforeseen expenses, and the aftermath of winter Storm Uri – we have managed to adapt and find innovative ways to provide essential services and programs that prioritize people and our planet. I am proud to highlight these accomplishments with this year’s annual report," ARR Director Ken Snipes said.
Some highlights include:
- ARR collected 63,030 tons of recycling, 53,455 tons of compost and 138,955 tons of trash through curbside collections from 209,981 single-family homes and multifamily properties with four units or fewer.
- 987 tons of household hazardous waste and 1,323 tons of other hard-to-recycle material were collected. 222 tons of household hazardous waste were recycled or reused and 33 tons of ReBlend Paint were produced from unwanted paint customers dropped off.
- ARR managed the debris cleanup from Winter Storm Uri, resulting in the collection of over 1,700 tons of large brush material through 518 special service requests placed by customers. ARR also experienced significant increases in the amount of material collected through the curbside composting program (which collects food scraps and residential yard trimmings) during the month of March, with an approximately 60% increase of tonnages collected, compared to March 2020.
- The diversion rate at the end of fiscal year 2021 was 41.96%. The City of Austin is committed to a zero waste goal to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90% by the year 2040.
About Austin Resource Recovery
Austin Resource Recovery provides a wide range of services designed to transform waste into resources while keeping our community clean. Services include curbside collection of recycling, trash, yard trimmings and large brush and bulk items; street sweeping; dead animal collection; household hazardous waste disposal and recycling; and outreach and education. Austin Resource Recovery offers free, voluntary and confidential consulting services to help Austin businesses reduce waste and comply with the City’s recycling ordinances. In December 2011, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan, which is the City’s road map to Zero Waste. The City of Austin is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to area landfills by 90 percent by 2040. Learn more at austinrecycles.com.
