Item 007 - ARR Operations and Administrative Projects Update (ADDITIONAL UPDATES ADDED) — original pdf

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To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Richard McHale, Director, Austin Resource Recovery November 12, 2025 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission 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 through the Circular Showcase and Circular Accelerator programs. Applications will be open October 13 to November 16. For more information visit https://austintexas.gov/circularshowcase. Brownfields Community Wide Assessment Grant The City of Austin was awarded a $500,000 grant from the EPA to assess and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. Brownfields are defined as real property where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be hindered by the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Over a four-year period, this funding will support environmental site assessments, asbestos and lead paint surveys, as well as cleanup and reuse planning. These efforts facilitate turning underutilized properties into assets benefitting the community, including affordable housing, parkland, and green spaces. Learn more at: https://www.austintexas.gov/brownfields International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certification The department is seeking possible certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in December 2025. ISO is a non-governmental body that establishes voluntary standards to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency across products, services, and systems. Solid Waste Service departments in San Antinio and Dallas have achieved this certification demonstrating commitment to improve ISO operational efficiency and at: https://www.iso.org/home.html. confidence. More information on customer increase Fix-It Austin Toy Hospital On November 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. Fix-It Austin hosted a Toy Hospital. Residents learned how to repair broken toys with guidance from skilled volunteers. Learn more at: https://www.austintexas.gov/fixit. Cyclovia ATX On November 8, Austin Resource Recovery provided full-service support for Cyclovia ATX (formerly Viva Streets). Trash and recycling bins were placed across nine designated zones within the Mueller neighborhood and surrounding areas. Additionally. street sweeping services were be provided for bike lanes for the event. Veterans Day Parade On November 11, The Veterans Day Parade was held on Congress Avenue. Austin Resource Recovery staff and vehicles participated in the parade and provided street sweeping services. Central City District Plan: Open Houses Austin Resource Recovery will partner with Austin Planning at their upcoming Open Houses for the Central City District Plan. The in-person event will take place at ACC Rio Grande on November 10 from 4-6:30 and the virtual event will take place on November 12 from 6-7:30. ARR will engage with community members about waste management service needs. Austin Public Library & Austin Resource Recovery to Expand Repair and Reuse Education (All Districts) Austin Public Library and Austin Resource Recovery have agreed by Memorandum of Understanding to provide educational resources on reuse, zero waste, and repair, in alignment with the City of Austin’s zero waste goal and APL’s mission to inspire all to discover, learn, and create. Key activities will include public educational workshops, interactive tools, and resources. This partnership will expand access to repair and reuse programs in the city while uniting the efforts already underway in both departments under one cohesive umbrella. The agreement is from October 2025 thru September 2030. Homeless Encampment Response On October 20, 2025, the City of Austin initiated a 3-week citywide Homeless Encampment Cleanup (HEC) project. This multi-departmental effort has removed 494 tons of debris to date. Crews have removed/diverted large amounts of tires, metals and shopping carts. Cleanings started with underpass cleanup during week one. Crews then shifted to rights-of-way, parks, and neighborhoods. ARR-HEC crews are closing out week three cleaning of Austin parklands at Brandt Rd, Williamson Creek, Gaines Creek and Stephenson Nature Preserve. SWANA International Road-E-O Competition Update Austin Resource Recovery team members recently participated in the SWANA International Road-E-O Competition held in Florida: • Alonzo Zermeno Sr.: 3rd place Automated • Denzel Locue: 2nd place-Rear Loader • Alonzo Zermeno Jr.: 3rd place-Rear Loader • Arturo Gonzalez-Rojas – Special recognition for coming in early each day over the past 3 weeks to set up the training course Transfer Station The department is actively continuing its efforts to identify a location for the proposed transfer station. City staff continue evaluate facility requirements and intend to visit some local Texas transfer stations to better help plan proposed facility for Austin. Austin Resource Recovery Safety Update Since the beginning of the FY26, monthly injury averages have remained consistent or fallen slightly in all categories. Most notably in the categories with average monthly reductions are Contusions, reduced from 2.1 to 1.5, Bites and stings reduced from 4 to 0.5, Chemical exposure reduced from 5 to 1, and Strains/Sprains/Tears reduced from 3.7 to 1. Business Planning Retreat Austin Resource Recovery held its annual Business Planning Retreat on October 30, 2025. Department leadership convened to review strategic priorities and mid to long-range operational and financial planning in alignment with department and City-wide goals. Performance metrics, fleet planning, grant opportunities, emerging technology, recycling participation, litter abatement, the central business district, and public education were some of the topics addressed in this retreat. The retreat concluded with a forward-looking budget review, including the annual financial report, budget forecasts, and the establishment of next steps in the budget development process for FY27 and FY28. Upcoming Council Action City Council is scheduled to consider an item on November 20, 2025, to authorize an amendment to two contracts for continued trash, recycling, and organics collection services for City facilities for all City Departments with Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. dba Texas Disposal Systems and Balcones Recycling Inc., to increase the amount by $500,000 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $8,078,000. Funding: $500,000 is available in the Operating Budget of various City Departments. ARR Solicitation Updates As of November 4, 2025 ZWAC Meeting November 12, 2025  Preparing for Council: • Routeware: The Contractor shall provide software product support for ARR’s mobile app and web widget that allows customers to check collection schedules, look up what to do with an item, schedule an appointment at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center and schedule a collection. Link to the current contract.  Published: • Central Business District Collection Services: The Contractor shall provide complete collection, transporting, processing, and disposal services of trash, bulk materials, recycling, compost, and daily litter cleanups, within the CBD. Link to the current contract. • Collection, Hauling, and Disposal of Materials at City Facilities: The City of Austin seeks a qualified Contractor to provide citywide collection, hauling, and disposal of landfill trash, single-stream recycling, compostable materials, Industrial Class 2, and special nonhazardous waste. The Financial Services Department oversees this citywide agreement. Link to the current contract. • Brownfields: Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office receives grants from EPA to perform environmental assessments to address potential environmental concerns, revitalize distressed properties, and return them to the community. Multiple Contractors, via a rotation list agreement, shall provide environmental assessments, studies, sampling, testing, analyses, designs, regulatory review, consultation, and/or remediation oversight for projects to address environmental concerns. This service will be provided for City of Austin facilities, City-interested properties, and grant-eligible Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office projects, on an as-needed basis. New contract.  Expected to be Published Within 90 days: • RRDOC Electronics Recycling: to pick up, transport, and recycle computers, monitors, televisions, and other devices that operate using electrical parts in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with the Basel Action Network’s e-Stewards Standard. Link to the current contract. Definitions: CCO CO-OP (Capital Contracting Office): Administers the procurement of professional and construction services. (Cooperative Contract): A contract that has been competitively bid and issued by another government or purchasing alliance with the intention of sharing it with other governmental entities. (Interlocal Agreement): A collaborative contract between local government entities (for example, ARR and a county, state, or school district) to provide more efficient and less costly services, where any payments are made from current revenues. (Invitation for Bid): Formal bidding documents inviting suppliers to submit pricing for goods or services. (Request for Information): Used to obtain industry input, feedback, or reactions from potential suppliers prior to issuing a solicitation. RFQ (Request for Quotation): Informal request to suppliers to provide quotes on specific goods or services. (Request for Qualifications): Formal solicitation used when qualifications are the main criteria for professional services. (Request for Proposals): Formal request for a supplier to provide a solution and cost estimate to a complex need. ILA IFB RFI RFQS RFP Page 4 of 1 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations LAST FISCAL YEAR-FY24 CURRENT FISCAL YEAR-FY25 Description of Services FY2023 FY2024 Aug 2024 Sep 2024 FY24 YTD (Oct 23-Sep 24) Aug 2025 Sep 2025 d e s o p s D s n o T i Tons of Curbside Trash Tons of Curbside Bulk Disposed HHW Operations Tons Disposed Estimated Tons of Curbside Recycling Residuals (1) Total Disposed Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations 132,867 8,383 540 136,713 9,366 484 10,553 10,610 10,967 955 50 850 10,632 1,009 37 788 136,713 9,366 484 10,610 10,564 596 35 705 11,016 532 40 700 152,343 157,173 12,821 12,466 157,173 11,900 12,288 154,514 152,310 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Sep 25) 138,105 5,993 452 FY 2025 Goal 135,000 5,993 452 9,963 10,865 3,320 3,210 42,315 3,016 3,230 40,094 51,135 (1) Estimated tons of curbside recycling processed by vendors as residual - based on bi-annual sample route audit Total Tons of Recyclables Collected RRC Tons Recycled/Reused RRC Tons of Brush Collected HHW Operations Tons Recycled/Reused 53,839 1,528 0 384 42,315 1,811 0 344 Tons of Drop Off Center Collections Recycled/Reused 1,691 1,948 223 0 36 243 141 0 27 149 Tons of Curbside Compost Collected Tons of Curbside Bulk Recycled Tons of Curbside Brush Collected Tons of Curbside Textiles Collected Tons of Carts Recycled 44,445 221 175,089 58 124 42,716 206 6,713 46 177 2,362 2,447 15 720 4 17 19 367 3 25 i d e t r e v D s n o T 1,811 0 344 1,948 42,716 206 6,713 46 177 175 0 29 180 158 0 31 170 1,907 1,379 25 348 3 25 19 256 3 18 1,835 0 388 1,835 0 388 1,951 1,951 38,971 272 9,357 42 221 38,971 272 9,357 42 221 Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR 275,466 94,122 6,682 6,220 94,122 5,503 5,076 90,908 101,950 427,809 251,294 19,503 18,686 251,294 17,402 17,364 245,422 254,259 63.42% 37.04% 33.52% 32.82% 37.04% 30.97% 28.60% 36.61% 35.97% Pounds of Trash Collected per Customer per Pickup 23.76 24.39 23.30 22.57 24.39 22.40 23.35 25.16 24.57 Number of Trash and Recycling Customers 215,063 215,723 217,382 217,596 215,723 217,865 217,874 211,313 211,313 Pounds of Recycled Materials Collected per Customer per Pickup (every other week) Pounds of Curbside Compost Collected per Customer per Week 19.37 15.19 14.20 13.71 15.20 12.89 13.80 14.70 18.73 8.00 7.67 5.05 5.23 7.67 4.07 2.95 7.14 7.14 Number of Curbside Compost Customers 213,758 214,366 215,982 216,198 214,366 216,176 216,199 209,968 209,968 Total Tons of Dead Animals Collected from COA Rights-of-Way and the Animal Shelter 71 55 4 3 55 6 6 73 73 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations 19,503 18,686 17,402 17,364 6,682 6,220 0 5,503 5,076 Aug 2024 Sep 2024 Aug 2025 Sep 2025 Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR 0 0 37% 36% 31% 29% 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Aug 2025 Sep 2025 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Sep 25) FY 2025 Goal Category of Waste Generation Residential Waste Diversion (city serviced accounts) Community Diversion Rate Reporting Status and Diversion Results for All Categories of Waste Generation 2020-21 Actual 41.96% 2021-22 Actual 38.32% 2022-23 Actual 63.42% 2023-24 Actual 37.04% 2024-25 Goal 35.97% 2024-25 Current 36.61% * * * * * * *As prescribed in the (1) 2023 Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive Plan, the Department shall conduct a detailed waste assessment study every five years to determine progress toward our Zero Waste goal. This plan is an update to the (2) 2011 Master Plan (see link below).The first such study was published in (3) 2015, titled Austin’s 2015 Community Diversion Study (see link below). The study focused on estimating diversion from both ARR-serviced properties and commercial properties. Commercial properties include retail businesses, food service establishments, professional offices, industrial properties, institutional facilities, government facilities and multifamily properties five units and larger. According to Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study, Residential Waste Diversion Rate (City-serviced accounts) represents approximately 15% and the Community Diversion Rate (accounts serviced by private waste haulers) represents approximately 85% of the total citywide. (1) 2023 Austin Recovery Comprehensive Plan (2) 2011 Master Plan (3) Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study Residential Waste Diversion (City-serviced accounts) 63.42% 41.96% 38.32% 37.04% 35.97% 36.61% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% 2020-21 Actual 2021-22 Actual 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Actual Category of Waste Generation Commercial Tons Landfilled** Commercial Tons Recycled** Commercial Organics Tons** CY21 1,558,819 471,492 95,840 2024-25 Goal CY22 1,358,344 454,031 87,896 2024-25 Current CY23 897,211 343,834 87,279 ** Numbers reported here are compiled from self-reported data submitted by licensed private waste haulers via semi-annual tonnage reports required under Section 15-6-3 of the City Code on a calendar year basis and as such, ARR does not attest to the accuracy of these amounts. These numbers reflect data from 100-200 licensed haulers (number of haulers varies over time), and include haulers servicing dumpsters, roll-offs, construction and demolition debris, landscaping debris, and metal scrap. These numbers do not reflect all data sources included in Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study. Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting - November 2025 Single Stream Recycling Statistical Report FY25: October thru September Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) and Balcones Resources, Inc. (BRI) Month and Year Contractor Tons Delivered Contractor Payments Net Value to the City Landfill Cost Avoidance Revenue Processing Cost Net Value Net Amount * Due/(Owed) $ per ton value Cost Per Ton Total October 2024 November 2024 December 2024 January 2025 February 2025 March 2025 April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 September 2025 TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total Total TDS BRI TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total 2,144.93 2,065.32 $4,210 1,877.78 2,230.55 4,108.33 2,287.96 2,261.93 4,549.89 1,951.48 2,779.03 4,730.51 1,748.80 2,046.62 3,795.42 2,040.11 2,068.38 4,108.49 1,945.56 2,310.56 4,256.12 1,788.23 2,466.41 4,254.64 1,955.56 2,113.95 4,069.51 1,895.07 2,432.11 4,327.18 1,835.66 1,885.32 3,720.98 2,535.20 1,395.15 3,930.35 36,850.76 232,267.97 $269,119 107,246.50 202,401.46 $309,648 ($70,395.74) $29,866.51 ($40,529) ($70,395.74) $22,399.88 ($47,996) ($32.82) $10.85 $28.34 $28.34 $30,199 $240,920 $271,118 $35,936 $233,022 $268,957 $30,218 $294,123 $324,341 $27,198 $210,298 $237,497 $33,916 $224,773 $258,688 $31,265 $239,277 $270,542 $28,936 $254,225 $283,161 $28,224 $192,418 $220,641 $25,821 $210,897 $236,718 $22,074 $146,932 $169,006 $29,820 $109,722 $139,543 $93,889 $218,594 $312,483 $114,398 $221,669 $336,067 $97,574 $272,345 $369,919 $87,440 $200,569 $288,009 $102,006 $202,701 $304,706 $97,278 $226,435 $323,713 $89,412 $241,708 $331,119 $97,778 $207,167 $304,945 $94,754 $238,347 $333,100 $91,783 $184,761 $276,544 $126,760 $136,724 $263,484 ($63,690) $22,326 ($41,365) ($78,462) $11,353 ($67,110) ($67,356) $21,778 ($45,578) ($60,242) $9,730 ($50,512) ($68,090) $22,072 ($46,018) ($66,013) $12,842 ($53,171) ($60,476) $12,518 ($47,958) ($69,554) ($14,749) ($84,304) ($68,933) ($27,450) ($96,383) ($63,690) $16,744 ($46,946) ($78,462) $8,515 ($69,948) ($67,356) $16,333 ($51,022) ($60,242) $7,297 ($52,945) ($68,090) $16,554 ($51,536) ($66,013) $9,632 ($56,382) ($60,476) $9,388 ($51,087) ($69,554) ($14,749) ($84,304) ($68,933) ($27,450) ($96,383) ($69,709) ($37,829) ($107,538) ($96,940) ($27,002) ($123,942) ($69,709) ($37,829) ($107,538) ($96,940) ($27,002) ($123,942) ($33.92) $7.51 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.29) $3.76 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.52) $5.88 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.45) $3.57 $28.34 $28.34 ($33.38) $8.00 $28.34 $28.34 ($33.93) $4.17 $28.34 $28.34 ($33.82) $3.81 $28.34 $28.34 ($35.57) ($6.98) $28.90 $28.90 ($36.37) ($11.29) $28.90 $28.90 ($37.97) ($20.07) $28.90 $28.90 ($38.24) ($19.35) $28.90 $28.90 $60,787 $58,531 $119,318 $53,216 $63,214 $116,430 $64,841 $64,103 $128,944 $55,305 $78,758 $134,063 $49,561 $58,001 $107,562 $57,817 $58,618 $116,435 $55,137 $65,481 $120,618 $50,678 $69,898 $120,576 $56,516 $61,093 $117,609 $54,768 $70,288 $125,056 $53,051 $54,486 $107,536 $73,267 $40,320 $113,587 FY25 Totals 50,061.67 $2,949,331 $3,753,737 ($804,406) ($840,027) $1,427,735