Presentation - Litter Abatement Programs — original pdf

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Litter Abatement Programs: Efforts to Keep Austin Clean ARR Litter Abatement Division Sam Gilbert-Acting Division Manager Citywide Homelessness Background… • In 2019, ARR in partnership with other City departments developed the Violet Bag Program to help abate litter in public places. • The program became a way for persons experiencing homelessness to properly dispose of debris generated at the sites. • ARR installed purple kiosks, 96-gallon carts and violet bags at numerous locations. • ARR serviced nearly fifty (50) locations for the Violet Bag Program. • With the camping ban in 2021, sites have reduced to one (1) location. Homelessness Encampment Cleanup Transportation & Public Works Department • TPW handles the cleanup of over thirty (30) underpasses throughout the city. Austin Parks and Recreation Department • The PARD department is responsible for encampment abatement on Austin parklands. Austin Resource Recovery Department • ARR partners with both TPW and PARD to provide personnel, equipment and removal of debris from encampments. • ARR assists TPW with underpass cleanups such as Cameron Rd, IH35 corridor and Menchaca Road. • ARR administers a multi-department cleaning contract. Homelessness Encampment Cleanup • Austin Resource Recovery partners with several City of Austin Departments to provide encampment cleanup throughout the city. • Encampment locations have moved to parklands, greenbelts, undeveloped private property and some corridor underpasses. • Challenges include accessibility, terrain and both loose and bulk debris at the camps. Violet Keepsafe Storage Program Violet Keepsafe Storage Program • Provides carts for people experiencing homelessness to store personal possessions. • Initially 85 bins were installed, but now there are 339 in place for utilization. • On average approximately 60 individuals use them daily. Homeless H.E.A.L. Sites H.E.A.L.- Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative • Focuses on closing encampments deemed unsafe. • Offer individuals pathway to crisis shelters and stable housing while reducing public camping. • Partnership between departments has safely cleaned and closed 16 H.E.A.L. sites. Homeless Encampment Cleanup ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP TONNAGE 1,528 1,177 380 WEIGHT IN TONS FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Clean Creeks Program • Austin Resource Recovery cleans the embankments along area creeks. • ARR partners with Watershed Protection Department. • Comprised of six(6) full time employees. • Clean up: 30 designated sites as well as pop-up sites along the creek's corridor. • ARR and WPD continue to find ways to increase the efforts of keeping these areas clean. Clean Creeks Program Methods to Keep Creeks Clean ARR provides several programs to help prevent litter from entering waterways: • • • Boulevard Street Cleaning Residential Street Cleaning Litter Control Program • Keep Austin Beautiful (KAB) • Encampment Cleanups Clean Creeks Program CLEAN CREEKS TONNAGE 221 143 WEIGHT IN TONS FY 2022 FY 2023 Austin Resource Recovery Programs to address litter and illegal dumping: • Clean Austin Program (CAP) • Litter Control Program • Illegal Dumping • Community Drop-off Events • Customer Education Litter Control - Illegal Dumping Plastics Reduction Initiatives City of Austin is dedicated to new innovations in the reduction of plastic waste in the following ways: • Zero Waste Business Rebate offers up to $1,800 for restaurants. • ARR and Office of Sustainability offers workshops, training, and education at City employee events and new employee orientation. • Member of the US Plastic Pact; collaborates departmentally to identify plastic purchasing trends and develop strategies to reduce plastic and packaging waste. • Implementation of city-wide Zero Waste at City Facilities within the next calendar year. Questions?