Item 005.1 - ARR Operations and Administrative Projects Update (ADDITIONAL UPDATES ADDED) — original pdf

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To: Zero Waste Advisory Commission From: Richard McHale, Director, Austin Resource Recovery Date: February 11, 2026 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission 2025 Austin Resource Recovery Customer Satisfaction Survey In partnership with Austin Energy, Austin Resource Recovery launched its Customer Satisfaction Survey in January 2026. The survey is intended to measure customer satisfaction with services provided by the department in the 2025 calendar year. ARR develops the survey content. Survey outreach is distributed in collaboration with Austin Energy in English and Spanish and conducted through phone calls and email. Results of the survey are typically available in late spring. ZWAC C&D Committee Meeting Austin Resource Recovery is supporting the ZWAC C&D Committee meeting on February 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Howson Branch Library. This meeting will convene to continue discussions with construction and demolition recycling stakeholders to discuss potential changes to the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance. Recycling contamination campaign ARR launched a citywide recycling contamination campaign in January to remind Austinites that batteries and electronics can’t be recycled in their curbside carts or dumpsters. Styrofoam and plastic bag recycling messaging will follow in March. Austinites can go to austintexas.gov/recycling to learn how to recycle these items the right way. A mailer encouraging proper recycling will be sent to all curbside customers in March. Bus ads will also run in March for batteries and electronics, followed by plastic bags and Styrofoam in April. Multifamily composting campaign ARR launched a multifamily composting advertising campaign in January to remind residents that composting is now required in multifamily properties. The campaign includes posters in grocery stores near apartments and condos that have added composting. The advertising campaign runs through February. Composting participation campaign ARR launched a composting participation campaign in February to encourage curbside customers to in their green cart, including compost more. Messaging informs customers that if foil, to keep aluminum meat, dairy and seafood. Additional messaging also reminds customers Styrofoam, plastic and glass out of their green cart. The advertising campaign runs through March. it grows, it goes Furniture Reuse Warehouse Update After two years of searching for a suitable location for the Furniture Reuse Warehouse, ARR has identified a property and a Purchase and Sales Agreement was recently executed a Purchase and Sales Agreement with the property owner. The City is currently in the due diligence phase, and all standard due diligence items have been initiated, including appraisal, environmental assessments, building condition review, and survey. Budget Recommendation Reminder The FY2026-27 budget process is underway, and a recent email was sent to Boards and Commissions as a reminder that the due date for budget recommendations is March 31, 2026. If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please reach out to blake.johnson@austintexas.gov. ARR Solicitation Updates As of February 3, 2026 ZWAC Meeting February 11, 2026  Preparing for Council:  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.  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.  Published:  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.  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.  Expected to be Published Within 90 days:  N/A 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 1 of 1 FY26 YTD (Oct 25-Dec 25) 34,293 1,967 111 FY 2026 Goal 136,579 8,874 389 2,212 11,095 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations LAST FISCAL YEAR-FY25 CURRENT FISCAL YEAR-FY26 Description of Services FY2024 FY2025 Nov 2024 Dec 2024 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Dec 24) Nov 2025 Dec 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 136,713 9,366 484 10,610 138,105 5,993 452 9,963 10,746 650 35 848 11,872 471 26 938 33,775 1,968 100 2,630 10,526 649 34 636 12,431 471 32 781 157,173 154,514 12,280 13,307 38,473 11,846 13,715 38,583 156,937 (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 42,315 1,811 0 344 40,094 1,835 0 388 Tons of Drop Off Center Collections Recycled/Reused 1,948 1,951 Tons of Curbside Compost Collected Tons of Curbside Bulk Recycled Tons of Curbside Brush Collected Tons of Curbside Textiles Collected Tons of Carts Recycled 42,716 206 6,713 46 177 38,971 272 9,357 42 221 i d e t r e v D s n o T 3,260 3,612 10,239 4,031 3,721 11,023 35,829 157 0 21 159 3,070 20 280 2 16 124 0 30 144 3,639 10 545 4 8 414 0 82 455 9,433 41 1,462 10 32 137 0 24 141 171 0 33 194 2,539 3,618 20 280 0 16 10 545 3 16 461 0 88 507 8,552 41 1,483 5 48 1,900 0 325 1,957 43,199 268 6,349 46 185 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 94,122 90,908 6,806 7,961 21,671 7,027 8,107 21,659 87,833 251,294 245,422 19,086 21,268 60,144 18,873 21,822 60,242 244,770 37.04% 36.61% 35.19% 37.05% 35.60% 36.83% 36.64% 35.48% 38.00% Pounds of Trash Collected per Customer per Pickup 24.39 25.16 22.98 25.35 24.05 22.36 26.36 24.90 23.91 Number of Trash and Recycling Customers 215,723 211,313 216,037 216,354 216,250 217,405 217,848 211,886 219,720 Pounds of Recycled Materials Collected per Customer per Pickup (every other week) Pounds of Curbside Compost Collected per Customer per Week 15.19 14.70 14.02 15.51 14.67 17.26 15.90 16.12 12.63 7.67 7.14 6.60 7.81 6.76 5.44 7.73 6.25 7.61 Number of Curbside Compost Customers 214,366 209,968 214,760 215,146 214,948 215,709 216,154 210,364 218,266 Total Tons of Dead Animals Collected from COA Rights-of-Way and the Animal Shelter 55 73 6 6 18 6 6 18 59 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations 19,086 18,873 21,268 21,822 6,806 7,961 7,027 0 8,107 Nov 2024 Dec 2024 Nov 2025 Dec 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% 37% 35% 38% 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Nov 2025 Dec 2025 FY26 YTD (Oct 25-Dec 25) FY 2026 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 38.00% 2024-25 Current 35.48% * * * * * * *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% 38.00% 35.48% 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 - February 2026 Single Stream Recycling Statistical Report FY26: October thru December 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 2025 November 2025 December 2025 TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total 1,672.37 2,392.88 $4,065 1,566.17 2,132.32 3,698.49 2,080.32 2,422.34 4,502.66 January 2026 TDS BRI Total 0.00 February 2026 TDS BRI Total 0.00 March 2026 TDS BRI April 2026 May 2026 June 2026 July 2026 Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 August 2026 TDS BRI Total 0.00 September 2026 TDS BRI Total 0.00 19,175.46 175,434.72 $194,610 83,618.50 234,502.39 $318,121 ($64,443.04) ($59,067.67) ($123,511) ($64,443.04) ($59,067.67) ($123,511) ($38.53) ($24.68) $28.90 $28.90 $17,597 $167,354 $184,952 $29,061 $201,397 $230,458 $78,309 $208,967 $287,275 $104,016 $237,389 $341,405 ($60,711) ($41,613) ($102,324) ($74,955) ($35,992) ($110,947) ($60,711) ($41,613) ($102,324) ($74,955) ($35,992) ($110,947) ($38.76) ($19.52) $28.90 $28.90 ($36.03) ($14.86) $28.90 $28.90 $48,331 $69,154 $117,486 $45,262 $61,624 $106,886 $60,121 $70,006 $130,127 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 FY25 Totals 12,266.40 $610,020 $946,801 ($336,781) ($336,781) $354,499