Item 004 - Drop Off and Curbside Services Administrative Rule Changes RCA Draft — original pdf

Backup

CITY OF AUSTIN AGENDA DATE: XX RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ACTION AGENDA ITEM NO.:XX PAGE: 1 of 2 *** DRAFT *** SUBJECT: Approve amendments to administrative rules to City Code Chapter 15-6 (Solid Waste Services) relating to curbside and drop off service. AMOUNT & SOURCE OF FUNDING: n/a FISCAL NOTE: No fiscal impact REQUESTING DEPARTMENT: Austin Resource Recovery FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gena McKinley, Deputy Director, 512-974-2192; Richard McHale, Director, 512-974-1997 PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: In 2012, City Council amended Chapter 15-6 of the City of Austin Code of Ordinances to require all Austin Resource Recovery proposed rules to be approved, modified, or disapproved by City Council [Ordinance 20120628-12]. BOARD AND COMMISSION ACTION: On March 25, the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee was briefed by memorandum with no action taken. On April 8, 2026 the Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) voted X-X -X. PURCHASING LANGUAGE: n/a MBE / WBE: n/a BACKGROUND Austin Resource Recovery’s Administrative Rules outline the implementation, administration, and enforcement of City of Austin Code and operating requirements of the department. In 2012, Austin City Council amended Chapter 15-6 of the City of Ausitn Code to require all Austin Resource Recovery proposed rules be approved, modified, or disapproved by City Council in accordance with Ordinance 20120628-12. ARR posted the proposed rules amendment to Speak Up Austin and opened public comment from 08/15/2025 through 09/15/205. Forty-eight responses were received from 28 individuals. Staff responses to public comment are attached. AMENDMENT *** DRAFT *** CITY OF AUSTIN AGENDA DATE: XX RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ACTION PAGE: 2 of 2 AGENDA ITEM NO.:XX *** DRAFT *** This amendment includes new guidelines for dropping off material at drop-off locations in alignment with department practices. A new limit for brush drop off is proposed: six cubic yards per person per day. This limit is introduced to mitigate large brush loads dropped off by commercial contractors at Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. Hornsby Bend is not designed to process large commercial loads that contain commercial debris and other trash material that damage City equipment. Residents may continue to drop off brush below this new limit, including those who are not ARR customers. The 6 cubic yard per person per day is a reasonable limit for average household to drop off brush. Additionally, the rules propose requiring all users of the brush drop off facility to pay a fee starting October 1, 2026. The fee will be included in the FY27 budget requests. The rules for extra trash, recycling, and composting are amended to provide additional clarity on fees that are applied for extra trash. The amendment clarifies that extra recycling is collected at no additional cost and provides guidelines for setting out this material. This amendment establishes a maximum of 15 additional items (bags, piles, stacks, reusable containers, etc.) of compostable material or yard trimmings. Collection guidelines are updated, including curbside composting details which were not previously described. Bulk, brush, and household hazardous waste collection guidelines are amended to reflect the updated on-demand services now provided by the department. Frequency of collection and instructions for scheduling an appointment are included in these rules. Additional guidelines for setting out household hazardous waste are included. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the amendments to Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules. [Attachment: Draft Rules language] *** DRAFT ***