Curbside Composting Update

The city of Austin is again expanding their curbside composting program. Beginning the week of June 25, 2018, the number of households receiving this service will approximately double. Most of the SRCC area will be included. Complete press release here.

As the City of Austin continues working towards its goal of diverting 90 percent of materials from community landfills by 2040, that means even more neighborhood residents can fill their green compost carts on a weekly basis with food scraps (including raw and cooked meat and bones), natural fibers, yard trimmings and food soiled paper (like pizza boxes), that is turned into nutrient-rich compost at a local composting facility.

Here are a few important compost cart reminders:

1. If it Grows, It Goes [in your compost cart]!
2. No glass, hard plastic or plastic bags should go in the GREEN COMPOST cart please!
3. Glass and hard plastic go in your blue recycling cart; plastic bags should be taken to the Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center or the plastic film recycling bins at participating stores.
4. You can use BPI-certified compostable bags, paper bags or newspaper to collect food scraps and then place in your GREEN COMPOST cart.
5. Composting carts are picked up every week on trash day.

Curbside Composting customers concerned with the odor, or “ick factor,” can take several steps to help eliminate odor:

• • Use a BPI-certified compostable bag to collect food scraps
  • Layer food scraps with yard trimmings in the green cart
  • Keep food scraps in the freezer until collection day
  • Line the kitchen collector with a paper bag or cereal box
  • Sprinkle baking soda in the kitchen collector and cart
  • Wash kitchen collector and cart with mild soap and water

  Not only does residential composting result in a cleaner community with a decreased need for landfill space, it also guarantees a chemical-free, nutrient-rich compost to boost soil health and improve lawns, landscapes and parks. If you don’t already have a green composting cart, you will have one between now and 2020. All curbside customers in the City of Austin are expected to be part of the curbside composting program by 2020. Training at festivals, school events, large neighborhood meetings and social gatherings is taking place. For more information, go to http://austintexas.gov/austincomposts.

  See also this FAQ:
  http://www.austintexas.gov/page/curbside-composting-faq

  Learn More! — Informational Open Houses
  Attend an open house and get a FREE Kitchen Compost Collector and compostable bags.

  4/28/18 | 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
  Austin Community College Northridge
  11928 Stonehollow Dr., Austin, Texas 78758

  5/5/18 | 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
  Givens Recreation Center
  3811 E. 12th. St., Austin, Texas 78721

  5/19/18 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  South Austin Recreation Center
  1100 Cumberland Rd., Austin, Texas 78704

  6/2/18 | 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
  City of Austin Rutherford Campus, Bldg. 1
  1520 Rutherford Lane, Austin, Texas 78754

  6/9/18 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  Dittmar Recreation Center
  1009 W. Dittmar Rd., Austin, Texas 78745