Item 005 - ARR Operations and Administrative Projects Update — original pdf

Backup

To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Gena McKinley, Deputy Director, Austin Resource Recovery October 14, 2026 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Recycling Reset On July 23rd, the Austin City Council approved ARR’s request to authorize the negotiation and execution of the third and final amended and restated service schedules to the City’s existing Single -Stream Recycling contracts with Circular Services and Texas Disposal Systems. The timeline for the final reset officially began with notifying the vendors in November of 2025. In February of 2026, the vendors submitted their initial pricing proposals to the City a t which point, contract negotiations commenced. ARR has now concluded its negotiations with both vendors and execution of the contracts was effective October 1, 2026. Food Rescue Mini-Summit for Businesses (District 3) Join local food service businesses, food rescue organizations, nonprofits, government partners, and other food system stakeholders for an interactive Food Rescue Mini-Summit lunch and learn for food-permitted businesses focused on building a stronger, more connected food rescue ecosystem in Austin. This event is being hosted by the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative, with organizing members from Austin Climate Action & Resilience, Austin Resource Recovery, the Travis County Environmental Resilience Program, The Central Texas Food Bank, Keep Austin Fed, and more. It will take place at 11:00 a.m. on October 19 at 979 Springdale Rd, Ste. 153. More information at: eventbrite.com/e/food-rescue-mini-summit-for-businesses- tickets-2001405147673. Austin City Limits (District 8) Austin Resource Recovery provided trash, recycle and compost services outside the footprint for Austin City Limits music festival between October 2 through 11. ARR placed bins along Barton Springs, Sterzing, Toomey and Lamar and on the Pfluger and Crenshaw Bridges to collect waste from festival goers walking to and from Zilker Park. Crews swept as needed and maintained the bins throughout the festival. Viva la Vida (District 9) Austin Resource Recovery will provide trash, recycle, and compost services for Viva la Vida, a City Co- sponsored event on Saturday, October 24. ARR will set out bins the morning of the event, service them throughout, and collect them shortly after the event ends. Universal Recycling Ordinance Online Reporting Mailer (All Districts) The City of Austin requires owners and managers of multifamily properties and businesses to ensure that their employees and tenants have convenient access to trash, recycling, and composting. Property managers must submit an annual diversion report between October 1 and February 1 each year. This October over 15,000 mailed reminders will be sent to property owners, managers, and food permit holders with instructions on how to submit their online plan. More information can be found at austintexas.gov/uro Circular Austin Applications Open (All Districts) The City of Austin offers two pathways to support circular entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits trying to move Austin closer to zero waste. The Circular Austin Accelerator program helps entrepreneurs improve their circular business ideas through workshops and 1:1 technical assistance. The Circular Austin Showcase competition provides the opportunity for circular economy businesses and entrepreneurs to information visit compete for a cash prize https://austintexas.gov/circularshowcase in May. Applications are currently open. For more Austin Resource Recovery Set out at Capture Rate Study with the Recycling Partnership (All Districts) The City of Austin has partnered with the nationally recognized non-profit, The Recycling Partnership, on a project to understand existing curbside recycling material capture and participation. This study will only affect specific existing collection routes selected from across Austin. In March 2026, a baseline material audit of curbside carts was complete. In September 2026, a four-week study was launched to measure set-out rates of recycling carts. Educational material will be distributed along these routes from November 2026 to March 2027. A final material audit will occur in summer 2027 to measure the impact of education and identify strategies to improve cart set out rate and capture more recyclable materials in the blue cart. This project is funded by The Recycling Partnership. ARR Solicitation Updates As of October 5, 2026 ZWAC Meeting October 14, 2026  Preparing for Council: • Multiple Material Rate Studies: Consultant to provide a community wide Capture Rate Study, Per Capita Disposal Rate Study, and a combined Diversion Rate and Waste Characterization Study. The Studies will reveal the effectiveness of the City’s collection programs and assist to better understand consumer behavior to assist the City in improving its waste diversion programs. No current contract •  Published: • N/A  Expected to be Published Within 90 days: • Education, Clean up and Beautification Service: Contractors to provide education, cleanup, beautification, and restoration services benefiting the public through a variety of programs and resources that inspire effective environmental stewardship among residents and improve Austin's environment and aesthetics. Link to 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 1 of 1 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Recycle and Reuse Center Operations LAST FISCAL YEAR-FY25 CURRENT FISCAL YEAR-FY26 Description of Services FY2024 FY2025 Jun 2025 Jul 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 Recycle and Reuse Center Operations 136,713 9,366 484 10,610 138,105 5,993 452 9,963 13,507 520 41 775 12,109 553 47 837 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Jul 25) 116,526 4,865 376 8,559 Jun 2026 Jul 2026 11,976 843 41 659 11,684 825 48 657 FY26 YTD (Oct 25-Jul 26) 114,446 6,520 395 FY 2026 Goal 136,579 8,874 389 7,055 11,095 157,173 154,514 14,843 13,547 130,326 13,519 13,214 128,416 156,937 (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 Tons of Recycle and Reuse Center Collections Recycled/Reused Tons of Curbside Compost Collected Tons of Curbside Bulk Recycled Tons of Curbside Brush Collected Tons of Curbside Textiles Collected Tons of Carts Recycled i d e t r e v D s n o T Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Recycle and Reuse Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Recycle and Reuse Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR 42,315 1,811 0 344 40,094 1,835 0 388 1,948 1,951 42,716 206 6,713 46 177 38,971 272 9,357 42 221 3,295 3,490 33,847 3,492 3,328 34,649 35,829 163 0 36 175 3,314 25 5,847 4 16 185 0 45 198 2,735 33 346 4 15 1,502 0 328 1,602 35,685 229 8,753 36 179 176 0 43 181 3,260 39 590 5 0 168 0 28 154 2,511 42 484 4 0 1,514 0 308 1,900 0 325 1,566 1,957 34,111 256 4,340 31 110 43,199 268 6,349 46 185 94,122 90,908 12,675 6,821 80,330 7,566 6,523 75,064 87,833 251,294 245,422 27,518 20,367 210,656 21,085 19,737 203,480 244,770 37.04% 36.61% 45.79% 32.91% 37.73% 35.40% 32.60% 36.47% 38.00% Pounds of Trash Collected per Customer per Pickup 24.39 25.16 34.61 29.16 25.63 25.34 24.71 24.43 23.91 Number of Trash and Recycling Customers 215,723 211,313 180,276 191,802 210,002 218,288 218,375 216,194 219,720 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 16.98 16.90 14.98 14.90 14.19 14.91 12.63 7.67 7.14 8.54 6.62 7.90 6.95 5.35 7.34 7.61 Number of Curbside Compost Customers 214,366 209,968 179,253 190,786 208,724 216,525 216,603 214,524 218,266 Total Tons of Dead Animals Collected from COA Rights-of-Way and the Animal Shelter 55 73 8 7 61 4 4 53 59 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Recycle and Reuse Center Operations 27,518 12,675 20,367 21,085 19,737 6,821 0 7,566 6,523 Jun 2025 Jul 2025 Jun 2026 Jul 2026 Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Recycle and Reuse Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Recycle and Reuse Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR 0 0 35% 33% 36% 38% 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Jun 2026 Jul 2026 FY26 YTD (Oct 25-Jul 26) 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 36.47% * * * * * * *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% 36.47% 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 2024-25 Goal 2024-25 Current Category of Waste Generation Commercial Tons Landfilled** Commercial Tons Recycled** Commercial Organics Tons** CY22 1,358,344 454,031 87,896 CY23 897,211 343,834 87,279 CY24 1,277,232 586,600 57,046 ** 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 - September 2026 Single Stream Recycling Statistical Report FY26: October thru July 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 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026 June 2026 July 2026 TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total 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 1,714.82 2,673.99 4,388.81 1,835.61 1,846.81 3,682.42 2,117.57 1,926.51 4,044.08 1,739.69 2,414.69 4,154.38 2,074.25 1,988.75 4,063.00 2,605.76 1,545.44 4,151.20 1,960.41 2,024.72 3,985.13 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 $24,016 $235,835 $259,850 $26,718 $173,113 $199,831 $32,942 $182,543 $215,485 $28,758 $237,708 $266,466 $37,053 $200,532 $237,585 $38,653 $157,795 $196,447 $31,035 $208,905 $239,939 $0 $0 $78,309 $208,967 $287,275 $104,016 $237,389 $341,405 $85,741 $262,051 $347,792 $91,781 $180,897 $272,678 $105,879 $188,798 $294,676 $86,985 $236,639 $323,624 $103,713 $194,898 $298,610 $130,288 $151,453 $281,741 $98,021 $198,422 $296,443 $0 $0 ($60,711) ($41,613) ($102,324) ($74,955) ($35,992) ($110,947) ($60,711) ($41,613) ($102,324) ($74,955) ($35,992) ($110,947) ($61,725) ($26,216) ($87,942) ($65,062) ($7,784) ($72,846) ($72,936) ($6,255) ($79,191) ($58,227) $1,069 ($57,157) ($66,659) $5,634 ($61,025) ($91,635) $6,342 ($85,294) ($66,986) $10,483 ($56,503) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 ($61,725) ($26,216) ($87,942) ($65,062) ($7,784) ($72,846) ($72,936) ($6,255) ($79,191) ($58,227) $802 ($57,425) ($66,659) $4,226 ($62,434) ($91,635) $4,756 ($86,879) ($66,986) $7,862 ($59,124) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 ($38.76) ($19.52) $28.90 $28.90 ($36.03) ($14.86) $28.90 $28.90 ($36.00) ($9.80) $28.90 $28.90 ($35.44) ($4.21) $28.90 $28.90 ($34.44) ($3.25) $28.90 $28.90 ($33.47) $0.33 $28.90 $28.90 ($32.14) $2.12 $28.90 $28.90 ($35.17) $3.08 $29.93 $29.93 ($34.17) $3.88 $29.93 $29.93 $29.93 $29.93 $29.93 $29.93 $48,331 $69,154 $117,486 $45,262 $61,624 $106,886 $60,121 $70,006 $130,127 $49,558 $77,278 $126,837 $53,049 $53,373 $106,422 $61,198 $55,676 $116,874 $50,277 $69,785 $120,062 $59,946 $57,475 $117,421 $77,990 $46,255 $124,245 $58,675 $60,600 $119,275 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 FY26 Totals 40,735.42 $2,225,625 $3,062,364 ($836,740) ($842,622) $1,185,634