Item 006 - Proposed Department Rule Amendments for Drop Off and Curbside Services Presentation

Zero Waste Advisory Commission – April 8, 2026

Item 006 - Proposed Department Rule Amendments for Drop Off and Curbside Services Presentation — original pdf

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Rule Amendments: Drop Off & Curbside Services Austin Resource Recovery | April 2026 What are administrative rules? Administrative Rules assist a Department of the City of Austin in the implementation, administration, and enforcement of City of Austin Code and operating requirements of the Department. Austin Code § 15-6-3(B) requires ARR to present proposed rule changes to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission for consideration and recommendation to City Council. City Council will approve, modify or disapprove of the proposed rule.” Department Administrative Rules are online at: library.municode.com/TX/Austin 2 Austin Resource Recovery Rule Amendment Process August September Oct - Nov Mar - Apr May Present Proposed Department Rule Amendment to ZWAC Proposed Rule Posted to Speak Up Austin. 30 Day Minimum Staff Review of Public Comments Present Rule Amendments to ZWAC & CWEP for consideration Council Consideration of Department Rule Amendment 3 Current Identified Department Rule Amendments Residential Services Rule Revisions 1. 2. 3. 4. Single Family Residential Collection Services (4.1 & 4.2) Placement of Carts for Collection (6.1) Extra Trash (6.3) Drop Off Services (5.8), Trash, Recycling, Organics, Bulk, HHW Collection Guidelines (7.1, 7.3, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9) Small Multi-family Residential Collection Services (New section 4.3); Commercial Collection Services (Existing 4.3, moved to 4.4) 4 Rule Amendment Highlights 5.6 6.3 7.1 Reuse and Recycling Drop Off Locations - Modified intake procedures at Hornsby Bend - A new limit of 6 cubic yards per person, per day - Brush drop off open to Austin residents and non-residents - All brush drop off users will be charged a fee at the site, starting October 2026 7.5 7.6 7.7 On-Demand Bulk Collection Guidelines - Aligns rules with on-demand program On-Demand Brush Collection Guidelines - Aligns rules with on-demand program On-Demand Household Hazardous Waste Collection Guidelines - Aligns rules with on-demand program Extra Trash, Recycling, and Composting - Clarifies extra trash rules and extra trash fees - Extra Recycling collection at no cost - Sets15 bag limit for yard trimmings Curbside Trash Guidelines - Sets standards for allowable size and collection of extra trash 5 6 Administrative Rules Update 3 Comment Summary and Staff Response This document includes public comments to ARR’s latest round of Administrative Rules updates. Some comments have been edited and combined for clarity. Direct quotes are put in quotation marks. Bulk Comment Staff Response Please provide guidance on what to do with small amounts of construction waste. One idea is that a small amount of construction and remodeling debris could be picked up during bulk collection for a reasonable fee. ARR cannot accept construction waste due to operational challenges collecting this type of material. [Reference 7.5.9.3] Household Hazardous Waste Comment On-demand liquid household hazardous waste pickup should not be limited to 30 gallons. [Reference 7.7.8] “Closing boxes and trusting the content is as noted is probably not a sound recycling guideline. Open for view is better in assuring the contents.” [Reference 7.7.6] Staff Response Staff set a 30-gallon limit for on-demand household hazardous waste pickup to accommodate the space available on the department's collection vehicles and to ensure all waste on the route for that day can be collected, as well as ensuring materials are at a safe weight for collection. If a customer has more waste they need picked up, they may schedule two additional on-demand pickups free of charge. Only containers holding liquid HHW material need to be sealed. For example, if you have 8 small plastic bottles of HHW and you place them in a cardboard box for staff to pick up, you do not need to seal up the cardboard box holding the 8 bottles. Only the plastic bottles that have the HHW material need to be sealed securely. The contents of all containers are inspected by staff once it reaches the HHW facility. Customer ID Veriﬁcation Comment Staff Response Commenters express concern that requiring residents to bring a utility bill to the drop off center is a barrier that may deter some people, including those who do not have a utility bill in their own name. Commenters suggest any identiﬁcation with an address should be acceptable. [Reference 5.6] In response to these concerns, staff amended the drop off requirements for customer veriﬁcation and removed the requirement to present a utility bill. Extra Trash and Recycling Comment Staff Response Extra trash should be secured in a container to deter wildlife. The department should also consider adding additional trash drop-off locations throughout the City. [Reference 6.3.1.1, 7.1.10] “Might be helpful to re-add information about where to purchase the stickers.” [Reference 6.3.1.3] Would the City consider offering extra recycling stickers as it does for trash? [Reference 6.3.2.1] Carts In order to maximize employee safety and avoid potential damage to personal containers, extra trash should be placed in a plastic trash bag next to the trash cart. Trash bags must be tied and secured to keep trash contained. Each bag of extra trash should not weigh more than 35 pounds. If wildlife, such as raccoons are a concern, consider placing extra trash bags out in the morning on the day of pickup. To reduce the length of the Administrative Rules and account for the possibility that the list of businesses may change, the department does not specify which businesses customers may purchase extra trash stickers from within these rules. More information on where to purchase extra trash stickers can be found on the department's website at https://www.austintexas.gov/extratrash. Extra recycling that does not ﬁt into the blue cart with the lid closed may be placed next to the cart in a reusable container or a cardboard box no larger than your cart. Additionally, Customers may request a second recycling cart for free by calling 311. There is no charge for extra recycling. Comment Staff Response Additional fees should not be charged if a trash cart's lid doesn't close ﬂat. [Reference 7.1.10] “Being contained but over the top lip of the cart still allows automation dumping. Overﬂowing and dropping off, should be responsibly moved into another bag/container.” [Reference 7.1.10] Overﬁlled carts are collected but are subject to an "extra trash" fee. The amount of the fee depends on the amount of trash preventing the lid from closing. Trash carts with multiple bags of trash sticking out will be charged an extra trash fee per bag of extra trash. Visit our website for the current fees. Thank you for your concern. Overﬂowing carts will be picked up; however, each bag of extra trash placed on top or beside the trash cart will be charged an extra trash fee. Visit our website for the current fees. “Regarding 6.2.7, it may be helpful to also list 512- 974-2000. Dialing 311 doesn't always work.” Staff added the customer service phone number to the Rules. Accepted Material Comment Clarify if compostable bags are allowed in the compost cart. [Reference 7.4.8] Please provide additional information on what "soiled paper" consists of. [Reference 7.3.9.7] Recycling Contamination Comment 7.3.7 should be stricter and say that if plastic bags are visible in the cart, they will not be emptied, and a notice will be left indicating that the cart could not be picked up due to contamination. [Reference 7.3.7] Consider paper leaf bags be used for extra trash or recyclables? [Reference 6.3.1.1] Staff Response Third-party certiﬁed compostable bags such as those certiﬁed by BPI and TUV Austria are allowed in ARR's compost cart. To clarify, staff added "third-party certiﬁed compostable bag" to 7.4.8. Please refer to the department's website to view what is acceptable to put in the composting cart. Staff will keep your suggestions in mind when redesigning the artwork on top of the composting carts. Staff Response For fully automated recycling collection, in which the driver does not physically handle the recycling cart, the department has no way to track plastic bag contamination. For collection where staff physically empty the recycling cart into the truck, they open the lid to dump the cart and will quickly inspect the contents. If staff notices that recyclables are bagged as they pick up the cart, they will not pick up the material and leave the customer a notice stating their cart was not picked up due to contamination. Extra trash should be placed in plastic trash bags and placed next to the trash cart. This is for the safety of staff picking up the material and to reduce the mess often left by trash placed in paper bags. Extra recycling should be placed next to the recycling cart in a reusable container or cardboard box no larger than the cart. A paper leaf bag may be used for recyclables but should be labelled "recycling" for staff to quickly identify the material since paper leaf bags are most often used for leaves and small lawn trimmings. Language Change Suggestion Comment Staff Response Please add disposal solutions to 7.3.9 for items that are not accepted in the curbside recycling cart. [Reference 7.3.9] “7.4.10: should say 'The use of plastic bags for compost COLLECTION is prohibited.'” [Reference 7.4.10] Deﬁne which holidays bulk items are not collected. [Reference 7.5.3] Staff should detail what the fees are for extra brush and bulk collection in the Rules. [Reference 7.6.3.2] For 7.5.3, use wording similar to 7.6.4. “…must be set out at the curb (not in an alleyway) on the scheduled appointment date." [Reference 7.5.3, 7.6.4] Information on what to do with items that are not accepted for curbside recycling is found on the department's website. The department has several tools available to help residents determine what to do with their items such as the What Do I Do With tool and the Austin Reuse Directory. Staff accepted the suggestion and added the word "collection." Staff removed sentence mentioning holidays. Customers are required to schedule an appointment for on-demand services. They will be notiﬁed of their appointment date and set out instructions. The fees for extra brush and bulk collection are subject to change every ﬁscal year. Brush fees are based on volume and bulk fees are based on weight. Visit the fee schedule webpage for the most up-to- date fee information. Staff edited 7.5.3 and 7.6.4 for consistency and clarity. City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal The City of Austin FM 812 Landﬁll is permanently closed and no longer accepts material for disposal. However, there are several locations in the Austin area where the public may drop oﬀ appliances, construction waste, and other large items. 5.2 Street and Boulevard Sweeping The Street Cleaning unit provides frequent street, and boulevard, and bike lane sweeping throughout the City. This service is designed to clean the gutters and limit contaminants from polluting Austin's creeks and drainage ways. 5.3 Litter Control Litter control services, provided by the City's Litter Abatement Division, include litter pick up, litter container management, and illegal dump clean ups. Litter abatement is performed nightly in the downtown central business district with additional litter abatement on the public right-of-way and City of Austin properties scheduled as reported. 5.4 Dead Animal Collection Dead animal collection is provided Monday through Saturdays Sunday as reported on public rights-of-way throughout Austin and from the City's Animal Shelter. 5.5 Alley and Street Flushing Alley and street ﬂushing utilizes a cold water ﬂushing process to clear contaminants from alleys and streets in the Central Business District (CBD). 5.6 Landﬁll Services The City of Austin FM 812 Landﬁll is permanently closed and no longer accepts material for disposal. However, there are several locations in the Austin area where the public may drop oﬀ appliances, construction waste, and other large items. 5.7 Resource Recovery Center (RRC) 5.7.1 The Resource Recovery Center (RRC) is operated by City staﬀ, or a private contractor, and accepts the following materials at this time: 5.7.1.1 Air Conditioners. 5.7.1.2 Water heaters. 5.7.1.3 Appliances including washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers. 5.7.1.4 Car batteries. 5.7.1.5 Metals of all types. 5.7.1.6 Used antifreeze. 5.7.1.7 Porcelain Toilets. 5.7.1.8 Used motor oil and oil ﬁlters. 5.7.1.9 Automobile tires. Revised November 2025 1 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 5.7.2 The list of accepted materials is subject to change. Please contact the RRC for a complete and current list of materials accepted. Further details and contact information can be found online at the Department's website. 5.6 5.8 Reuse and Recycling Drop-off Locations The Director may establish additional reuse and recycling centers or drop-off locations operated by City personnel, volunteers, non-profit organizations, or private contractors. Once an item(s) has been paid for and accepted, no refunds will be issued. Visit the Department’s website for more information. 5.6.1 Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center 5.6.1.1 City of Austin utility customers can drop off many items at the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center for no cost. 5.6.1.2 Travis County jurisdiction residents can drop off at the center in alignment with the agreement with the County. 5.6.1.3 For a list of what is accepted at the center, visit the Department's website. 5.6.2 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop off 5.6.2.1 City of Austin utility customers can drop oﬀ HHW at the center for no additional cost. 5.6.2.2 Travis County jurisdiction residents can drop oﬀ at the center in alignment with the agreement with the County. 5.6.2.3 For a list of accepted HHW material, visit the Department's website. 5.6.2.4 Residents of the City of Austin may bring up to 30 total gallons of home- generated liquid hazardous waste to the center in containers with five (5) or fewer gallons of capacity at no additional cost. If more than 30 gallons of liquid hazardous waste are brought to the facility for disposal, the resident may be charged at cost for the disposal of the extra waste. 5.6.2.5 Unpermitted HHW includes radioactive materials, any biologically active materials, ammunition or explosive materials, certain pressurized gas cylinders, and any hazardous waste generated by a business. 5.6.2.6 The Director may set additional limits on the types or amounts of items collected to protect workers or accommodate equipment limitations. 5.6.3 Brush Drop-off Center (Austin Water’s Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant) 5.6.3.1 Any person can drop off a maximum of six cubic yards of tree limbs, branches, shrubs, and leaves per day. 5.6.3.1.1 The limit may be waived by the department director during emergencies or when material supply is low. 5.6.3.2 Beginning October 1, 2026, any person using the drop-off center will pay a fee. 5.6.3.3 The brush drop-oﬀ center does not accept: 5.6.3.3.1 5.6.3.3.2 5.6.3.3.3 5.6.3.3.4 Construction materials Particle board Trash Treated or painted lumber Revised November 2025 2 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 6.2 Maintenance of Carts 6.2.1 Customers shall store city-issued carts on private property, except when special arrangements have been made in writing with the City. 6.2.2 Carts issued by the City remain the property of the City and must remain at the site assigned. 6.2.3 When residents vacate a property, they are responsible for leaving City-owned cart(s) and bin(s) on the property in a secure place. All carts will be removed by the City when the utilities are disconnected. 6.2.4 Customers shall keep carts reasonably clean so they will not attract flies, fire ants or other pests or cause a health concern. 6.2.5 Customers without organics collection shall bag materials that may attract pests or cause health concerns (i.e. food waste, animal waste, soiled diapers, etc.) in a plastic trash bag before placing into the trash cart. 6.2.5 6.2.6 Customers shall keep cart lids closed when placing cart at the curb. 6.2.6 6.2.7 Customers should rinse food residue from recyclable glass, metal and plastic containers before placing in the recycling cart to keep the cart clean and to avoid pests and odors. 6.2.7 6.2.8 Report any damage to the cart(s) to the Department by calling the City of Austin Utility Contact Center at 512-974-2000, dialing 3-1-1, or emailing customercare@coautilities.com to speak to a customer service representative. 6.2.8 6.2.9 Damaged carts will be replaced at no extra charge if damage is due to "normal wear and tear", or due to no fault of the customer. 6.3 Extra Trash, Recycling, and Composting 6.3.1 Extra Trash 6.3.1.1 All extra trash placed for curbside collection that is in addition to, or outside of, the City-provided trash cart, must be placed in a plastic trash bag no larger than 40 gallons and no heavier than 35 pounds with an extra trash sticker attached to avoid the unstickered extra trash fee. 6.3.1.2 Any trash that is not properly tagged with an extra trash sticker will be collected but be charged the unstickered extra trash fee, which is greater than the cost of the extra trash sticker. When an extra trash sticker is used, the only fee incurred is the price of the sticker itself. 6.3.1.3 Extra trash stickers can be bought at many local grocery stores for a fee paid by the customer. Stickers are typically found at the customer service desk at the grocery store. 6.3.1.4 Each bag of extra trash must weigh no more than 35 pounds. 6.3.2 Extra Recycling 6.3.2.1 Extra recycling is collected at no additional cost. Customers can request an additional recycling cart for no additional charge by calling 3-1-1. 6.3.3 Extra Composting and Yard Trimmings 6.3.3.1 Extra compostable material is collected at no additional cost. 6.3.3.2 A maximum of 15 additional items of compostable material or yard trimmings (excluding the compost cart) will be collected during regular collection. Additional items include stacks, piles, compostable bags or personal reusable containers of compostable material. Revised November 2025 3 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 6.3.1 Extra Trash Stickers are required for trash placed for curbside collection that is in addition to, or outside of, the City-provided trash cart. Extra trash stickers can be bought at many local grocery stores by customers for a fee paid by the customer. 6.3.2 To avoid additional penalties or fees, the collection of trash in excess of the City- provided carts shall require Extra Trash Sticker (s) attached to each bag or additional container. 6.3.3 Extra Trash Stickers do not apply to scheduled Bulk or Brush pickup. 6.3.4 Any additional trash not properly tagged with a sticker will be collection, and an 6.3.5 additional fee will be assessed to the customer for each bag or item outside of the trash cart. If the lid to a cart(s) does not close, the extra trash must be removed by the customer and placed in a plastic trash bag(s) no larger than 40-gallons and set beside the cart. 6.3.6 Trash carts, whose lids do not close, may be charged an additional fee. 6.3.7 No more than 35 pounds of extra trash should be placed in each plastic bag. 6.3.8 Department employees will exercise reasonable care in lifting bags, but if the bag would likely break if lifted, the bag may be left uncollected 6.3.9 Personal containers can only be used for yard trimmings and must have the following characteristics: 6.3.9.1 Weigh less than 35 pounds when full. 6.3.9.2 No sharp edges. 6.3.10 If a customer places extra trash at the curb, then: 6.3.10.1 An Extra Trash Sticker must be placed on each bag. 6.3.10.2 Each bag must weigh no more than 35 pounds. 6.3.10.3. Personal containers cannot be emptied by an automated vehicle and the City takes no responsibility for loss of, or damage to, containers not issued by the City. 6.3.11 The Director reserves the right to waive extra trash fees in the event of a natural disaster or significant storm event. 7.1 Curbside Trash Collection Guidelines 7.1.1 These rules Directors Rules apply to ARR residential and commercial customers. ARR Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) residential customers and commercial customers subscribing to City of Austin services. 7.1.2 Trash is collected once each a week for residential customers and as subscribed for commercial customers, in brown or beige carts or containers provided by the City. Revised November 2025 4 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.1.3 Days of collection are normally Monday through Friday, except during holiday slide weeks observed by the department. 7.1.4 The Director designates the day a customer will receive service for trash collection. The Director may change the service day(s) at any time, provided the customers receive advance notice. Any changes to service day(s) will be based on the routing needs of the department. 7.1.5 The Director may impose restrictions on the collection and quantities of certain 7.1.6 7.1.7 items to protect departmental employees or based on equipment limitations. Items collected that require special handling must be placed in a sealed bag including but not limited to kitty litter, animal waste, Styrofoam peanuts, sawdust, and vacuum cleaner dust. If organics collection is not available, kitchen waste and food scraps shall be placed in a bag or wrapped in newspaper before being placed directly into the trash cart. 7.1.7 7.1.8 Ashes must be cooled, boxed or bagged, and placed inside of the trash cart. (Due to the risk of causing a fire in the refuse truck, ashes should be extinguished completely for at least 72 hours before setting out for collection.) 7.1.8 7.1.9 Needles or syringes must be placed in a hard-plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tight-fitting lid, placed in the trash cart and labeled as “sharps”. 7.1.9 7.1.10 Broken glass must be carefully wrapped in newspaper or boxed and labeled “GLASS” and placed inside the trash cart. 7.1.10 If the lid to a cart(s) does not close, the customer must remove the extra trash, place it in a plastic trash bag(s) no larger than 40 gallons and no heavier than 35 pounds, and attach an extra trash sticker. 7.1.10.1 Department employees will exercise reasonable care in lifting bags, but if the bag would likely break when lifted, the bag may be left uncollected. 7.1.10.2 Trash carts with lids that do not close may be charged an additional fee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.3 Curbside Recycling Collection Guidelines 7.3.1 These collection rules apply to residential and commercial customers. City of Austin, residential customers, and commercial customers subscribing to City of Austin services. This information does not apply to residents who are specifically exempted from ARR collection services. 7.3.2 Recycling is collected by the City of Austin every other week, in a blue cart provided by the City. 7.3.3 Days of collection are normally Monday through Friday, except during holiday slide weeks observed by the Department. 7.3.4 The Director designates the day a customer will receive service for recycling collection. The Director may change the service day(s) at any time, provided the customer receives advance notice. Changes to service day(s) will be based on the routing needs of the Department. Revised November 2025 5 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.3.5 The Director may impose restrictions on the collection or quantities of certain items to protect departmental employees or based on equipment limitations. 7.3.6 The Director may impose additional restrictions based on applicable laws, regulations, and the City’s recycling contracts. 7.3.7 Put recyclable material loose in the bin. Do not place recyclable material in a 7.3.8 7.3.9 plastic bag. For a list of materials accepted for curbside recycling, visit the Department's website. Items not accepted in curbside recycling include: 7.3.9.1 Batteries and electronics. 7.3.9.2 Broken light bulbs, ceramics, or glass (i.e., window, sheet, Pyrex, etc.). 7.3.9.3 Compressed gas or propane cylinders 7.3.9.4 Diapers and medical supplies (i.e., bandages, needles, syringes, etc.). 7.3.9.5 Plastic bags, film, and wrap. 7.3.9.6 Styrofoam (i.e. egg cartons, cups, packing peanuts, etc.). 7.3.9.7 Wet, soiled, or food-stained paper products (i.e., paper towels, cardboard, tissues, etc.). 7.3.9.8 Any other items not listed as recyclable on the Department’s website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.4 Materials Accepted for Recycling 7.4.1 Plastic containers with resin codes PETE, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, PP, and PS (also known as plastics #1—#7) including, but not limited to, the following rigid plastic examples: 7.4.1.1 Laundry detergent bottles, bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, liquid and dishwashing soap bottles bathroom, all-purpose cleaner bottles, milk jugs, soda, liquor, water, cooking oil bottles, and plastic juice containers. 7.4.2 Aluminum, tin and steel cans and containers are accepted; labels do not need to be removed. 7.4.3 Glass jars, bottles, and beverage containers of any color are accepted; labels do not need to be removed. 7.4.4 Mixed paper (clean) and cardboard (without wax) of all types are accepted. The following are examples of accepted paper types: 7.4.4.1 Computer, printer, and fax paper. 7.4.4.2 Brochures and pamphlets. 7.4.4.3 Posters, flyers and direct mail advertisements. 7.4.4.4 Newspapers (including inserts), magazines and catalogs. 7.4.4.5 Envelopes with labels and windows are accepted. 7.4.4.6 Carbonless forms and self-adhesive “Post-it” notes. 7.4.4.7 Shredded paper wrapped in a paper bag. 7.4.5 Cardboard boxes must be flattened for collection. 7.5 Materials not Acceptable in Curbside Recycling 7.5.1 Broken window or sheet glass, light bulbs, Pyrex, crystal, or ceramic dishes. Revised November 2025 6 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.5.2 7.5.3 7.5.4 7.5.5 Jars, cans, containers, or flower pots contaminated with large amounts food or organics products. Styrofoam (i.e. egg cartons, cups, packing materials peanuts, etc.). Soap, diapers, floppy disks and CDs, plastic packaging (i.e. sandwich bags, plastic wrap, plastic film, plastic bags). Soiled or food-stained paper, paper towels, cardboard, pizza boxes, wet paper or cardboard. 7.5.6 Rubber bands, facial or toilet tissue. 7.5.7 Medical supplies, needles or syringes 7.5.8 Home chemical containers (pesticides, herbicides, solvents, paints, adhesives, motor oil, and other petroleum product containers). 7.5.9 Compressed gas or propane cylinders. 7.5.10 Automotive products including batteries, lids, filters, and used car parts. 7.5.11 Any other items not specifically listed in the above Materials Accepted for Recycling section. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.4 7.6 Curbside Organics Composting Collection Guidelines 7.4.1 7.6.1 These rules apply to department customers. The Rules in this section only to residential customers receiving organics collection. This information does not apply to households that are not City of Austin residential customers, or do not have City of Austin curbside collection services, unless covered by a separate written annexation agreement. 7.4.2 7.6.2 Days of collection are normally Monday through Friday, except during holidays observed by the Department. 7.4.3 7.6.3 The Director designates the day a customer will receive service for organics composting collection. The Director may change the service day(s) at any time, provided the customers receive advance notice. Any changes to service day(s) will be based on the routing needs of the department. 7.4.4 7.6.4 The Director may impose restrictions on the collection and/or quantities of certain items to protect departmental employees, or based on equipment limitations. 7.4.5 7.6.5 Non-organic compostable items, such as trash or recyclables, must not be mixed with organics. 7.4.6 For a complete list of materials accepted for curbside composting, visit the Department’s website. 7.6.6 Organic materials that are collected at the curbside include: leaves, grass clippings, and small branches and limbs that are smaller than five (5) feet and no thicker than three (3) inches. Curbside collection does not accept branches longer than five (5) feet in length and wider than three (3) inches in diameter. All yard trimmings must be tied in small bundles using rope or heavy string and weigh no more than 35 pounds. 7.4.7 7.6.7 Items not collected in curbside composting at the curb include: 7.4.7.1 Trash, Revised November 2025 7 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.4.7.2 Lumber, 7.4.7.3 Large tree limbs (longer than five (5) feet or wider than three (3) inches in diameter), old water hoses, clay or plastic pots, old gardening tools, 7.4.7.4 Fertilizers, 7.4.7.5 Dirt, 7.4.7.6 Sand, soil, sod or rocks and 7.4.7.7 Any other items materials not listed as compostable on the Department’s website which are not biodegradable plant materials. 7.4.8 7.6.8 Organic materials such as grass clippings, leaves, weeds and small twigs, Compostable material must be placed in the composting cart, a compostable paper bag(s), a third-party certified compostable bag, a compostable cardboard box(es), or in a personal reusable container(s), unless a City of Austin organics cart is provided. Thorny plants, including cacti that can easily injure employees, must be placed in a cardboard box. 7.4.8.1 Small branches and limbs no longer than 5 feet and no thicker than 3 inches may be stacked outside the cart in small piles no heavier than 30 pounds. If the material is tied or bound, it must be with 100% organic (compostable) material such as jute twine or cotton. Piles that do not follow this rule will not be collected. 7.4.9 7.6.9 Customer supplied personal reusable containers must be no larger than 35 gallons, have no sharp edges, and weigh no more than 35 pounds when loaded. On During rainy weather, put lids on or cover containers to keep water out. 7.4.10 7.6.10 The use of plastic bags for organics compost collection is prohibited. organics Compost set out in plastic bags will be considered extra trash and charged in alignment with the fee schedule and must have an Extra Trash Sticker attached to each bag or they will be charged an extra trash fee. 7.6.11 Small brush and limbs must be bound in small bundles no longer than five (5) feet with heavy cord (not wire), must be easy to pick up and must weigh no more than 35 pounds. 7.6.12 If limbs are placed in a personal, reusable container(s), limbs cannot project more than six (6) inches above the rim of the container. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.5 7.7 On-Demand Bulk Item Collection Guidelines 7.5.1 7.7 1 The Rules in this section apply to residential customers only. This information section does not apply to households without City of Austin residential services, or customers without City of Austin curbside collection services, unless covered by a separate written annexation agreement. 7.5.2 7.7.2 The Director determines the frequency of bulk item collections and any special collections. Customers will be notified in advance when a bulk collection is scheduled in their neighborhood. The frequency of collection will be up to Revised November 2025 8 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules three times per calendar year as requested by the resident on an on-demand basis. 7.5.2.1 7.7.2.1 An appointment is required for collection. Schedule appointments via the Austin Recycles app, online, or by dialing 3-1-1. 7.5.2.2 7.7.2.2 For additional collection outside the allotted three per calendar year, ARR offers a fee-based extra bulk collection. Fees are based on the estimated weight of debris set out for collection. 7.5.3 7.7.3 Crews typically collect bulk items Monday through Friday in each neighborhood, except for holidays. All items intended for collection must be set out at the curb, not in an alleyway on the scheduled appointment date., by the first day of collection at 6:30 a.m. 7.5.4 7.7.4 Items must not be set under low hanging electrical wires, basketball goals or low hanging trees. 7.5.5 7.7.5 Items must not cover or block access to mailboxes, water meters, or be leaned against telephoneutility connection boxes. Items should not be stacked against fences or other objects that may hinder easy collection of materials by hand or mechanically. 7.5.6 7.7.6 The Director may impose restrictions on the collection or quantities of certain items to protect employees or based on equipment limitations. 7.5.7 7.7.7 Items collected at the curb include passenger car tires (removed from rims, no more than eight per collection date), doors, furniture, appliances, carpeting, rolled fencing, lawn mowers, railroad ties (must be cut to no more than 5-feet in length), pallets, lumber (must be free of nails and tightly bound), and tree logs or limbs larger than 8-inches in diameter, and utility poles (less than 10-feet long). 7.5.8 7.7.8 Different types of materials must be sorted into separate piles. 7.5.9 7.7.9 Items not collected at the curb for large bulk collection include the following: 7.5.9.1 7.7.9.1 Hazardous materials including, but not limited to, pesticides, paints, batteries, solvents, oils, aggregate materials, acids, and bases. 7.5.9.2 7.7.9.2 Automotive chassis and bodies, motorcycles, trailers, boats, truck or tractor tires, any passenger tires mounted on wheels, or oil contaminated automotive parts. 7.5.9.3 7.7.9.3 Construction and remodeling debris (including plywood, bricks, rocks, cinder blocks, stone, concrete, mortar, sand, sheet rock, insulation, flooring, shingles, siding, steel, roofing, sheet glass, and mirrors). 7.6 7.8 On-Demand Brush Collection Guidelines 7.6.1 7.8.1 The Rules in this section apply to residential customers only. This information does not apply to households who are not City of Austin residential Revised November 2025 9 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules customers, or do not have City of Austin curbside collection services, unless covered by a separate annexation agreement. 7.6.2 7.8.2 The Director determines the frequency of brush collections and any special collections. Customers will be notified in advance when a brush collection is scheduled in their neighborhood. The frequency of collection will be up to three times per calendar year as requested by the resident on an on-demand basis. 7.6.3.1 7.8.3.1 An appointment is required for collection. Schedule appointments via the Austin Recycles app, online, or by dialing 3-1-1. 7.6.3.2 7.8.3.2 For additional collection outside the allotted three per calendar year, ARR offers a fee-based extra brush collection. Fees are based on the volume of debris set out for collection. 7.6.4 7.8.4 Crews typically collect brush and yard trimmings Monday through Friday in each neighborhood, except for holidays. All items intended for collection must be set out at the curb, not in an alleyway on the scheduled appointment date by the first day of collection at 6:30 a.m. 7.6.5 7.8.5 Brush must be confined to one row, in an area no larger than 15’ x 15’, and stacked no higher than 4 feet. 7.6.6 7.8.6 Brush must be stacked loosely with cut ends facing the street. It must not be tied into bundles nor extend into the street or sidewalk. 7.6.7 7.8.7 Items must not be set under low hanging electrical wires, basketball goals or low hanging trees. 7.6.8 7.8.8 Items must not cover or block access to mailboxes, water meters, or be leaned against telephoneutility connection boxes. Items should not be stacked against fences or other objects that may hinder easy collection of materials by hand or mechanically. 7.6.9 7.8.9 The Director may impose restrictions on the collection and/or quantities of certain items to protect departmental employees, or based on equipment limitations. 7.6.10 7.8.9 Items collected at the curb include brush and tree limbs that are too large to be included in the organics collection, brush (5’ to 15’ long), branches (3” to 8” in diameter and 5’ to 15’ long). 7.8.10 Items not collected at the curb include bulk items and household hazardous waste. 7.6.11 7.8 .11 Brush shorter than 5-feet and smaller than 3-inches in diameter must be stacked into manageable piles no heavier than 30 pounds and set out for organics or yard trimming collection on your normal scheduled appointment service day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.7 7.9 On-Demand Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Guidelines Revised November 2025 10 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.9.1 The HHW Collection Facility is open to City of Austin and Travis County residents and households of surrounding counties. Non-City of Austin utility customers can use the facility for a fee. 7.9.2 The Director will determine any changes in the weekly operating schedule or the schedule for any weekend collection events. 7.9.3 Residents of the City of Austin and Travis County may bring up to 30 gallons of home-generated hazardous waste to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility free of charge. 7.9.3.1 If more than 30 gallons of hazardous waste are brought to the facility for disposal, the resident may be charged at cost for the disposal of the extra waste. 7.9.3.2 Residents may not bring items in containers with more than 5 gallons of capacity. 7.9.3.3 The Director may impose additional restrictions on items, or quantities of items to be collected to protect workers or based upon equipment limitations. 7.9.4 Materials accepted at the drop-off site include: pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, paints and thinners, gasoline, antifreeze, motor oil, oil filters, and other automotive products, all household and car batteries, cleaners, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, photographic chemicals, and any fluorescent bulbs. 7.9.5 The Director may impose additional restrictions on items, or quantities of items to be collected to protect workers or based upon equipment limitations. 7.9.6 Materials prohibited include: radioactive materials, any biologically active materials, ammunition or explosive materials, certain pressurized gas cylinders, and any hazardous wastes generated by a business. 7.7.1 The Rules in this section apply to residential curbside customers only. This information does not apply to households that are not City of Austin residential curbside customers, or do not have City of Austin curbside collection services. 7.7.2 The Director determines the frequency of HHW collections. The frequency of collection will be up to three times per calendar year as requested by the resident on an on-demand basis. 7.7.2.1 An appointment is required for collection. Schedule appointments via the Austin Recycles app, online, or by dialing 3-1-1. 7.7.3 All items intended for collection must be placed in an area where collection staff can access them. Additional set out instructions are provided with appointment confirmation. HHW items shall not be placed at the curb for collection. 7.7.4 7.7.5 For a list of what HHW is accepted for on-demand pickup, visit the Department's website. Items shall be placed, when possible, in a recyclable container such as a cardboard box or plastic tub. These containers will not be returned after collection. Revised November 2025 11 of 12 City of Austin Austin Resource Recovery Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules 7.7.6 Containers holding HHW material must be closed, sealed, and clearly labeled. Leaking containers shall be bagged separately in a sealable bag. 7.7.7 Individual containers must be five (5) gallons or smaller. Containers larger than five gallons will not be collected. 7.7.8 The total amount of materials set out for each collection may not exceed 30 gallons. Excess items may be collected at a different scheduled appointment or dropped off at the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center. Revised November 2025 12 of 12