Maya Ellison
The City of Austin has a robust recycling program in place, and is part of the U.S. Plastics Pact, which aims to end plastic waste in the country. Austin's recycling program accepts all types of plastic, including hard plastics and soft plastics like plastic bags and films, which can be dropped off at store locations. The city also collects mixed paper, metal, and glass in blue recycling carts, with no sorting required. Plastic bottles, however, should be rinsed before being recycled, and those containing toxic substances must be disposed of using hazardous waste procedures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling | Accepted |
| Plastic Number 5 Recycling | Accepted |
| Plastic Bags | Accepted at drop-off stations |
| Plastic Film | Accepted at drop-off stations |
| Plastic Bottles | Accepted |
| Plastic Jars | Accepted |
| Plastic Utensils | Not accepted |
| Plastic Cartons | Not accepted |
| Plastic with Food Residue | Not accepted |
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What You'll Learn
- Austin accepts all colours and numbers of hard/rigid plastic
- Plastic bags and plastic films can be recycled at drop-off stations
- Plastic utensils cannot be recycled in the City of Austin
- Plastic water bottles are recycled into other beverage bottles
- The City of Austin signed a global commitment in 2018 to create a circular economy for plastic
Austin accepts all colours and numbers of hard/rigid plastic
The City of Austin takes all colours and numbers of hard/rigid plastic for recycling. Place hard plastics directly into your blue recycling cart, with no sorting required. This includes all numbers of plastic, as Austin has great contracts and contacts in the recycling industry.
The “recycling number" inside the triangle on plastic materials is called the Resin Identification Code, and it communicates the type of plastic. It is not an indicator of whether an item is recyclable. Cities tend to list the numbers of plastics they accept, but Austin does not need to do this as it sorts by type of material.
The blue recycling cart is for hard/rigid plastics, while soft plastics like plastic bags and plastic film should be taken to a store drop-off station. Plastic bags can be recycled at most area grocery stores, and the Mueller HEB accepts rigid plastics and plastic bags in the same collector outside the store.
It is important to rinse out glass and plastic jars before placing them in the bin. Grease and food residue on paper products mean they cannot be recycled, but they can be composted.
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Plastic bags and plastic films can be recycled at drop-off stations
Plastic bags and plastic films can be recycled in Austin, but not using the blue recycling carts. Instead, they need to be taken to a store drop-off station. The City of Austin does not differentiate between different types of plastic and accepts all numbers of plastic for recycling. However, it sorts recyclables by type of material—rigid/hard plastics go in the blue recycling carts, while soft plastics like plastic bags and plastic films go to a store drop-off station.
The Mueller HEB, for example, has a sign stating that it accepts plastic bags and rigid plastics in the same collector outside the store. However, this does not mean that the City of Austin accepts both types of materials in the blue carts. It's important to note that plastic bags and thin plastic films can jam sorting machines, which is why they need to be recycled separately at drop-off stations.
Before recycling plastic bags, ensure that they are reasonably clean. Produce, veggie, and fruit bags can be recycled, but turn them inside out first to remove all stickers and food bits. If the bag is too dirty or sticky, it's best to throw it in the trash.
It's also worth noting that while most plastic bottles are recyclable, those containing toxic substances must be disposed of using hazardous waste procedures. Additionally, plastic utensils cannot be recycled in Austin as they are too small for the sorting machines and can cause jams.
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Plastic utensils cannot be recycled in the City of Austin
It is important to note that while some products may be labelled as "recyclable", this does not guarantee that they can be recycled by the City of Austin. The "recycling symbol" or "recycling number" inside the triangle on materials refers to the Resin Identification Code, which indicates the type of plastic. However, it does not always mean that the item can be recycled. Cities typically list the specific plastic types they accept, but Austin is unique in this regard.
Austin takes all types of plastics and sorts them by material type. Rigid or hard plastics, such as mixed paper, metal, glass, and hard plastic (excluding bags), can be placed directly in the blue recycling cart. Soft plastics, on the other hand, like plastic bags and plastic films, should be taken to a store drop-off station.
The City of Austin is committed to reducing plastic waste and has joined the U.S. Plastics Pact. This initiative aims to eliminate problematic and unnecessary materials, reduce the use of virgin plastic, and increase the recyclability and compostability of plastic packaging. Despite these efforts, certain items, such as plastic utensils, continue to pose challenges due to their size and potential to disrupt the recycling machinery.
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Plastic water bottles are recycled into other beverage bottles
The City of Austin joined the U.S. Plastics Pact in 2020, with the aim of ending plastic waste in the U.S. The pact includes brands, retailers, government agencies, recyclers, and more. One of the goals of the pact is to effectively recycle 50% of plastic packaging and establish a framework to recycle or compost packaging at scale.
Austin Resource Recovery provides curbside collection of recycling, including plastic, from over 200,000 single-family households in Austin. The collected recyclables are transported to a local Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for processing. At the MRF, the recyclables are sorted by specialized equipment, then baled and sold to other businesses to be transformed into new products.
Plastic water bottles collected in Austin are recycled into other beverage bottles or used for polyester in products such as clothing, carpets, or backpacks. However, it is important to note that the plastic used to make water bottles, known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), is often not recycled into new bottles. While PET is easily recyclable, the recycled form, known as rPET, is usually used for lower-grade applications like carpets or pillows, which are likely to end up in landfills.
Additionally, the supply of recycled PET in North America typically exceeds demand, making it challenging to ensure the quality of rPET for use in bottles. Large beverage companies often require high-quality, stable sources of rPET for their products, which can be difficult to obtain through municipal recycling programs due to variations in quality. As a result, most 100% rPET bottles are sold by smaller companies that can more easily obtain smaller batches of recycled PET.
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The City of Austin signed a global commitment in 2018 to create a circular economy for plastic
The City of Austin has demonstrated its commitment to reducing plastic waste by signing a global agreement in 2018 to establish a circular economy for plastics. This agreement aims to transform the way plastic is produced, consumed, and reused. As part of this initiative, Austin has implemented various programs and policies to minimize plastic waste and promote sustainability.
Austin Resource Recovery offers curbside recycling collection services to single-family homes and multifamily complexes with up to four units. Residents can place mixed paper, hard plastic (excluding bags), metal, and glass directly into their blue recycling carts without sorting. Additionally, Austin has expanded composting services and collects plastic film and foam from warehouse operations.
The city also prioritizes sustainable purchasing practices and encourages residents to reduce their plastic consumption. They recommend bringing reusable bags for shopping and using bulk bins, as well as opting for reusable alternatives to single-use plastics like straws and disposable utensils. Austin Resource Recovery provides educational resources and training to city staff and the community to promote proper recycling practices and reduce waste.
In 2020, Austin took its commitment a step further by joining the U.S. Plastics Pact. This pact brings together a diverse group of organizations, including brands, retailers, government agencies, and recyclers, to end plastic waste in the United States. The pact sets ambitious targets, such as eliminating problematic and unnecessary materials, reducing virgin plastic use by 30% by 2030, and ensuring that 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Austin is actively contributing to the national strategy to create a circular economy for plastics and make the city greener and more sustainable.
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Frequently asked questions
The City of Austin provides curbside collection of recycling, including plastics, from single-family households up to four-plexes. Residents can place hard plastics (no bags) directly into their blue recycling carts, which are collected by Austin Resource Recovery trucks and transported to a local Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for processing and sorting by specialized equipment.
Austin accepts all types of plastic for recycling, including hard plastics and soft plastics like plastic bags and plastic film, which can be dropped off at store locations. However, plastic utensils and milk cartons are not recyclable in Austin.
It is important to rinse glass and plastic jars before placing them in the recycling cart. Additionally, any paper products with food residue, such as grease or cheese, cannot be recycled but can be composted.
