REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via 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 by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Gustavo Valle, 512-974-4350, Gustavo.Valle@austintexas.gov. CURRENT [BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS]: Gerry Acuna, Chair Ian Steyaert, Vice Chair Melissa Caudle Michael Drohan CALL TO ORDER Caitlin Griffith John L. Harris Ali Ishaq Iris Suddaby AGENDA Seth Whaland Miriam Athmer Tarik Aossey 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 Regular meeting on August 19, 2026 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve a recommendation to council to authorize a contract for multiple material rate studies for Austin Resource Recovery with Resource Recycling Systems, Inc. D/B/A Rrs, for an initial term of three years with up to three additional 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000. Funding: $350,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Resource Recovery. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Approve the 2027 Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Schedule. 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. 5. Staff briefing on the historical overview of the FM812 Landfill by Gena McKinley, Deputy Director of Austin Resource Recovery Staff briefing on the status of Austin Resource Recovery Operational and Administrative projects by Gena McKinley, Deputy Director of Austin Resource Recovery FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Gustavo Valle at Austin Resource …
CITY OF AUSTIN RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ACTION CONTRACTOR: RESOURCE RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC. D/B/A RRS COUNCIL DATE: 11/05/2026 SUBJECT: Authorize a contract for multiple material rate studies for Austin Resource Recovery with Resource Recycling Systems, Inc. D/B/A Rrs, for an initial term of three years with up to three additional 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000. Funding: $350,000 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 $350,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 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 a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1500 RGW3011 for these services. The solicitation was published on April 27, 2026, and closed on June 2, 2026. Of the five offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=143475 MBE/WBE: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were insufficient subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Austin Financial Services – Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. BOARD AND COMMISSION ACTION: October 14, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Zero Waste Advisory Commission ADDITIONAL BACKUP INFORMATION (RCA BODY) The contract will provide services for the City to participate in three studies, including a community wide Capture Rate Study, Per Capita Disposal Rate Study, and a combined Diversion Rate and Waste Characterization Study. The contract will allow the City to plan, conduct and process data on both Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) collected and non-ARR collected trash, recycling and organics material streams for both residential and commercial customers. In November 2023, Austin City Council approved the 2023 Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission DRAFT 2027 Meeting Schedule The Zero Waste Commission meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise determined by the Commission. Meetings 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, time or location will be noted on meeting agendas. Meeting Dates January 13 February 10 April 14 May 12 June 9 July 14 August 11 September 8 October 13 November 10 Cancelled Dates March 10 December 8
History of FM812 Landfill Austin Resource Recovery | 10/14/2026 Gena McKinley, Deputy Director Site Overview FM812 – Background Location: Travis County, near Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Size: Approximately 391 Acres MSW Permits: 360 & 360A, later upgraded to Subtitle D Standards Lifespan: 1960’s to 2009 3 Facility Usage Transition In 1995, TCEQ approved converting the FM 812 Landfill acreage to a Type IV facility accepting only construction, demolition, and land-clearing debris—no household putrescible waste. Type I operations are suspended in February 1999 and by June 1999, Type IV operations commences at FM812. 4 ARR C&D Tonnage Figures: 2001-2008 C&D Tonnage 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Disposal Quantity (Metric Tons) 17,281 19,460 25,830 31,732 32,998 26,500 14,514 3,628 5 Landfill Fee Schedule: 2001 – 2008 Uncompacted Load (per cubic yard) 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 $ 5.50 $ 5.50 $ 5.50 $ 6.50 $ 6.50 $ 6.50 $ 6.50 $ 6.50 6 Current FM 812 Projects • AE Lay-down Yard and Vehicle Parking: 10 acres off FM 973 • Solar Array: 58.224 acres; UPower selected vendor for AE project • Leachate line construction: 180 days to complete from project commencement 7 Questions
To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Gena McKinley, Deputy Director, Austin Resource Recovery October 14, 2026 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Recycling Reset On July 23rd, the Austin City Council approved ARR’s request to authorize the negotiation and execution of the third and final amended and restated service schedules to the City’s existing Single -Stream Recycling contracts with Circular Services and Texas Disposal Systems. The timeline for the final reset officially began with notifying the vendors in November of 2025. In February of 2026, the vendors submitted their initial pricing proposals to the City a t which point, contract negotiations commenced. ARR has now concluded its negotiations with both vendors and execution of the contracts was effective October 1, 2026. Food Rescue Mini-Summit for Businesses (District 3) Join local food service businesses, food rescue organizations, nonprofits, government partners, and other food system stakeholders for an interactive Food Rescue Mini-Summit lunch and learn for food-permitted businesses focused on building a stronger, more connected food rescue ecosystem in Austin. This event is being hosted by the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative, with organizing members from Austin Climate Action & Resilience, Austin Resource Recovery, the Travis County Environmental Resilience Program, The Central Texas Food Bank, Keep Austin Fed, and more. It will take place at 11:00 a.m. on October 19 at 979 Springdale Rd, Ste. 153. More information at: eventbrite.com/e/food-rescue-mini-summit-for-businesses- tickets-2001405147673. Austin City Limits (District 8) Austin Resource Recovery provided trash, recycle and compost services outside the footprint for Austin City Limits music festival between October 2 through 11. ARR placed bins along Barton Springs, Sterzing, Toomey and Lamar and on the Pfluger and Crenshaw Bridges to collect waste from festival goers walking to and from Zilker Park. Crews swept as needed and maintained the bins throughout the festival. Viva la Vida (District 9) Austin Resource Recovery will provide trash, recycle, and compost services for Viva la Vida, a City Co- sponsored event on Saturday, October 24. ARR will set out bins the morning of the event, service them throughout, and collect them shortly after the event ends. Universal Recycling Ordinance Online Reporting Mailer (All Districts) The City of Austin requires owners and managers of multifamily properties and businesses to ensure that their employees and tenants have convenient access to trash, recycling, and composting. Property managers must submit an annual diversion report between October 1 and February 1 …
