REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION OCTOBER 8, 2025 6:00 PM CITY HALL ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission maybe participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register contact Karina Camara, at Karina.Camara@AustinTexas.gov or via phone at 512-978-0751. AGENDA Members: Gerry Acuna, Chair Ian Steyaert, Vice Chair Melissa Caudle Caitlin Griffith Amanda Masino Melissa Rothrock Michael Drohan Seth Whaland CALL MEETING TO ORDER Ali Ishaq Iris Suddaby John L. Harris PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission meeting on August 13, 2025. ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve the 2026 Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Schedule. 3. Discussion and Action pursuant to Austin Resource Recovery City Council Audit and Finance Committee Report. 4. Recommend authorizing the negotiation and execution of a multi-term contract to provide residential dumpster collection services, with Texas Disposal Systems, for up to 36 months, with two 12-month options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,500,000. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing regarding the Transfer Facility, by Amy Slagle, Assistant Director of Austin Resource Recovery 6. Staff briefing on the status of Austin Resource Recovery Operational and Administrative projects by Amy Slagle, Assistant Director of Austin Resource Recovery. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Karina Camara at Austin Resource Recovery, at (512) 978-0751 or email Karina.Camara@AustinTexas.gov , for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, please contact Gustavo Valle at (512) 974-4350 4350 or via email Gustavo.Valle@AustinTexas.gov or Karina Camara …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission DRAFT 2026 Mee�ng Schedule The Zero Waste Commission meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise determined by the Commission. Mee�ngs are held at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 301 W. 2nd Street. Changes to the above regarding date, �me or loca�on will be noted on mee�ng agendas. Mee�ng Dates January 14 February 11 April 8 May 13 June 10 July 8 August 12 September 9 October 14 November 10 Cancelled Dates March 11 December 9
RCA Cover Sheet for ZWAC-Revised May 2022 RESIDENTIAL DUMPSTER COLLECTION SERVICES SOLICITATION # IFB 1500 RGW1026 ZWAC: 10/08/2025 Council: 11/06/2025 OVERVIEW 1. Requested Contract Term, Authorization, and Current Budget Length of contract and total authorization: Authorize negotiation and execution of a multi- term contract to provide residential dumpster collection services, with Texas Disposal Systems, for up to 36 months, with two 12-month options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,500,000. ARR current fiscal year budget: $458,333 2. Solicitation Information Solicitation No: IFB 1500 RGW1026 # of bids received: 4 # of non-responsive bids received: 0 Length of time solicitation was out on the street: 37 days Was the time extended? Yes Issued date: 08/04/2025 Closed date: 09/09/2025 3. Previous Contract Information Previous contract: Yes Contract number: MA 1500 NA200000117 Contract length and authorization: 3 years with two 12-months options; $2,100,000 Contract actual spend: $1,168,059.18 Current status: Active; new contract needed due to current contract expiring Contract execution date: 04/09/2020 Contract expiration date: 02/20/2026 4. Notes/Other This contract supports the City’s Zero Waste initiative by ensuring continued and expanded residential dumpster collection services. The Contractor will provide collection, transportation, maintenance, and cleanup of refuse materials generated by residential multi-unit customers within designated metropolitan areas. The Contractor will also adjust dumpster sizes as needed to meet service demands. RCA Cover Sheet for ZWAC-Revised May 2022 This request aligns with departmental and citywide sustainability goals by maintaining essential sanitation services and reducing environmental impact. Performance will be tracked through service reliability metrics, customer satisfaction scores, and type and weight of tonnage collected. CITY OF AUSTIN RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ACTION CONTRACTOR: TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS INC D/B/A TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS COUNCIL DATE: 11/06/2025 SUBJECT: Authorize a contract for residential dumpster collection services for Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) with Texas Disposal Systems Inc d/b/a Texas Disposal Systems, for an initial term of three years with up to two 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. Funding: $458,333 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Resource Recovery. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. LEAD DEPARTMENT: Austin Financial Services CLIENT DEPARTMENT(S): Austin Resource Recovery FISCAL NOTE: Funding in the amount of $458,333 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Resource Recovery. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. PROCUREMENT: Austin Financial Services issued …
Austin Transfer Station October 8th, 2024 What Is A Transfer Station? • A facility where solid waste is temporarily collected, sorted, and consolidated before being transferred to larger vehicles for transportation to a landfill, recycling facility, or other final disposal site. Transfer Station Benefits • Reduces GHG emissions • Supports Electrifying Fleet • Provides public disposal opportunities & • Increases storm readiness & operations resiliency • Reduces ARR & City operating expenses reduces blight • Supports City’s Climate Equity Plan • Expands diversion & disposal • Supports ARR Comprehensive Plan opportunities Financial Analysis Factors Consultant reviewed several categories of expenses to evaluate benefit of building a transfer station opposed to direct hauling to disposal facility. Metric Routes Measurement Number of routes eliminated Personnel Reduction in staffing or overtime Vehicles Savings on trucks, fuel, and tolls Construction Capital costs to develop facility including fixed equipment Operating Costs Costs to operate the facility including all personnel costs Site Evaluation Factors • Site Conditions • Operational Cost Efficiency • Potential for Permitting Concerns • Impact on Surrounding Community • Utility Access • Value of Land Parcel • Environmental Justice • Compatibility with CAPCOG Plan • Ease of Vehicle Accessibility • Collection Rate Efficiency The financial viability of a transfer station is largely determined by its proximity to both the new dispatch location at the Northeast Service Center (NESC) and the collection service areas…. Sites…east of I-35 in the north-central and northeast areas are likely to offer stronger financial returns compared to other parts of the City.” - Consultant’s Report Recycle Facility Waste Facility Brush Facility ARR Service Center Compost Facility Sites Evaluated Seattle North Transfer Station Financial Results • Constructing and operating a transfer station would result in an annual cost of approximately $20,000 - $992,000 compared to direct hauling waste prior to accounting for additional revenue from private (non- City) haulers • Breakeven with acceptance of private hauler waste Next Steps September 10, 2025 February 2026 2030 Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) Briefing CWEP & ZWAC update on Transfer Station including potential Development Agreement Beginning of FY 2030 Estimated Commencement of Operations City Council Authorization for Property Acquisition City Council Authorization for Development Agreement Fall 2025 Spring 2026 Questions? Richard McHale Director – Austin Resource Recovery 512-974-4301 Richard.McHale@austintexas.gov www.austinrecycles.com
To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Amy Slagle, Assistant Director, Austin Resource Recovery October 8, 2025 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Microburst Cleanup Efforts On May 28, 2025, the City of Austin experienced significant impacts from a microburst storm, which caused widespread damage across multiple neighborhoods that included downed tree limbs, leaves, and bulk debris. In response to the storm, ARR mobilized crews to begin cleaning the impacted areas on May 29th. ARR customers submitted over 2,800 service orders via 3-1-1 for storm debris collection. During the thirty-day cleanup ARR crews and contracted debris haulers collected 5,696 tons of storm debris and approximately one ton of bulk material. The Public Drop-off at Hornsby Bend received approximately 2880 tons of material from over 3,600 customer drop-offs. The department produced approximately 34,000 cubic yards of mulch from the microburst event. Annual Reporting for the Universal Recycling Ordinance The City of Austin requires property owners and business managers of commercial and multifamily properties to ensure that their employees and tenants have convenient access to landfill diversion services, which can include single-stream recycling, and composting. Over 15,000 letters are mailed in October to remind property and business managers across Austin to submit an annual diversion report between October 1 and February 1. More information can be found at austintexas.gov/uro. Circular Accelerator and Showcase Applications Open The City of Austin offers pathways to support circular entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized enterprises. Opportunities to compete for cash prizes and improve their circular business ideas through workshops and technical assistance is available every year thru the Circular Showcase and Circular Accelerator programs. Applications will be open October 13-November 16. For more information visit https://austintexas.gov/circularshowcase Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) C&D Committee Meeting Austin Resource Recovery is supporting the ZWAC C&D Committee meeting on October 9th at 11:00 a.m. at Cepeda Branch Library. This meeting will convene construction and demolition recycling stakeholders to discuss potential changes to the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance. Sewing Machine Maintenance and Repair Workshop On October 4th at 1 p.m., ARR will host a repair workshop at Windsor Park Library. Residents will learn the basics of how to maintain your sewing machine and tackle common issues. Attendees are encourage to bring their own sewing machine!! Learn more at: austintexas.gov/FixIt. Austin City Limits Music Festival Austin Resource Recovery will be collecting trash and recycling and maintaining bins outside …
Austin Transfer Station Zero Waste Advisory Commission October 8th, 2024 What Is A Transfer Station? • A facility where solid waste is temporarily collected, sorted, and consolidated before being transferred to larger vehicles for transportation to a landfill, recycling facility, or other final disposal site. Transfer Station Benefits • Reduces GHG emissions • Supports Electrifying Fleet • Provides public disposal opportunities & • Increases storm readiness & operations resiliency • Reduces ARR & City operating expenses reduces blight • Supports City’s Climate Equity Plan • Expands diversion & disposal • Supports ARR Comprehensive Plan opportunities Financial Analysis Factors Consultant reviewed several categories of expenses to evaluate benefit of building a transfer station opposed to direct hauling to disposal facility. Metric Routes Measurement Number of routes eliminated Personnel Reduction in staffing or overtime Vehicles Savings on trucks, fuel, and tolls Construction Capital costs to develop facility including fixed equipment Operating Costs Costs to operate the facility including all personnel costs Site Evaluation Factors • Site Conditions • Operational Cost Efficiency • Potential for Permitting Concerns • Impact on Surrounding Community • Utility Access • Value of Land Parcel • Environmental Justice • Compatibility with CAPCOG Plan • Ease of Vehicle Accessibility • Collection Rate Efficiency The financial viability of a transfer station is largely determined by its proximity to both the new dispatch location at the Northeast Service Center (NESC) and the collection service areas…. Sites…east of I-35 in the north-central and northeast areas are likely to offer stronger financial returns compared to other parts of the City.” - Consultant’s Report Recycle Facility Waste Facility Brush Facility ARR Service Center Compost Facility Sites Evaluated Seattle North Transfer Station Financial Results • Constructing and operating a transfer station would result in an annual cost of approximately $20,000 - $992,000 compared to direct hauling waste prior to accounting for additional revenue from private (non- City) haulers • Breakeven with acceptance of private hauler waste Next Steps September 10, 2025 February 2026 2030 Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) Briefing CWEP & ZWAC update on Transfer Station including potential Development Agreement Beginning of FY 2030 Estimated Commencement of Operations City Council Authorization for Property Acquisition City Council Authorization for Development Agreement Fall 2025 Spring 2026 Questions? Richard McHale Director – Austin Resource Recovery 512-974-4301 Richard.McHale@austintexas.gov www.austinrecycles.com
