Austin Becomes First Texas City to Require Composting in Multi-Family Complexes

Austin Takes a Step Towards Zero Waste with Composting Requirement

Austin, Texas, has made a significant move in its journey towards sustainability by becoming the first city in the state to mandate that multi-family complexes, including apartments and nursing homes, provide composting services to their residents. This requirement will start on October 1st and is a crucial part of the city’s ambitious zero-waste goal set for 2040.

The Importance of Composting

The initiative to require composting comes at a time when cities are looking for effective ways to manage waste and reduce their environmental footprint. Many people do not realize that food waste, when sent to landfills, does not decompose properly and generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to climate change.

Jeff Payne, the owner of a local composting company called Break It Down, emphasized the importance of addressing food waste. “We started in 2009 out of my front yard with a half-ton Nissan pickup truck. Just a vague idea, a lot of naive optimism,” Payne said. “What are we doing with that food waste? How much value are we recreating with it?”

Combating Climate Change

Payne’s company now serves close to 1,000 customers, mostly businesses such as restaurants, and processes about 20 tons of food waste per day. He believes there is a lot of work left to do to combat climate change through proper waste management. “To be honest, that’s kind of the tip of the iceberg,” he added.

The city hopes that the new composting requirement will help reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills and, consequently, lessen the harmful emissions associated with food waste decomposition. According to Paul Bestgen from Austin Resource Recovery, currently, the city is only achieving 40-percent landfill diversion of its target of 90 percent by 2040. “We need to be able to find different ways to get that number to move up,” Bestgen mentioned.

The Path Forward for Complexes

Multi-family complexes will have a year to comply with this new regulation. Bestgen stated that the city aims to assist these complexes in incorporating composting services. “Our goal is to answer their questions and help them overcome any obstacles they face,” he said.

Austin’s composting initiative is not entirely new, as the service is already available for single-family homes and is a requirement for restaurants. This change, however, aims to expand the program’s reach to more residents, creating a broader community impact.

Changing Community Habits

For the residents, adopting composting practices may require a shift in how they handle waste at home. Bestgen encourages individuals to start small by composting food scraps like apple cores and banana peels. “You can start small,” he advised. “And it can make a big difference.”

Payne also shared how composting has simplified his waste disposal routine. “I really only need to take the trash out once a week, and that keeps it simple,” he said. “And my trash can never stinks, so that’s nice.”

Helpful Resources for Residents

To help residents understand what can and cannot be composted, the city has created a dedicated website offering guidelines and resources. This is part of the effort to ensure that the community is well-informed about the new composting initiative that aims for a healthier environment.

Austin’s proactive approach to implementing composting services demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. As more cities look for solutions to manage waste and promote recycling, Austin sets a valuable example with its latest measure.