Don’t Mess with Texas: Trash Things Properly

Hello again, Austin neighbors and friends! Did you know that the “Don’t Mess with Texas” slogan was started by the Texas Department of Transportation as a campaign to curb littering? With that in mind, and in honor of Earth Month, let's be sure we're making a positive impact on our environment by using both our blue recycling cart and green composting cart effectively and as intended.

Recycling in Your Blue Cart:

First things first—let's clarify what belongs in your blue recycling cart:

• Paper Products: Glossy paper, junk mail, newspapers, cardboard, and more.

• Metals: Steel and tin cans, aluminum foil, and clean aluminum baking pans.

• Glass: Jars and bottles (labels can stay on).

• Hard Plastics: Water bottles, jars, tubs, toys, and plastic lawn chairs.

Now, let's keep these tanglers out of your blue cart:

• Plastic Bags, Garden Hoses, and Textiles: Take these items to local retailers or organizations listed in the Austin Reuse Directory.

• Strings of Lights and Electrical Cords: Drop them off at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center for proper recycling.

Composting in Your Green Cart:

Composting is a wonderful way to divert food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials from landfills. Here's what can go into your green composting cart:

• Food Scraps: Cooked or raw meat, fruits, vegetables, bread, coffee grounds, eggshells, and more.

• Yard Trimmings: Grass clippings, leaves, small branches, and plants.

• Food-Soiled Paper: Paper bags, napkins, plates, cups, and take-out containers without plastic or wax coating can go in your green cart.

• Natural Fibers: Popsicle sticks, sawdust (in paper bags), shredded paper, and untreated wood can also be composted.

What to Keep Out of Your Green Cart:

• No liquids, fats, oils, grease, plastic, glass, or metals.

• Yard trimmings should not include rocks, soil, or tree stumps.

Here are some composting tips:

• Use a kitchen collector to gather food scraps conveniently.

• You can use BPI-certified compostable bags or paper bags for collecting food scraps.

• Even if you compost at home, the city's composting facility can handle materials like meat, dairy, and seafood, thanks to high processing temperatures.

Remember, composting helps create nutrient-rich soil and reduces methane emissions from landfills.

Everything Else in the Trash Bin? NO!

If an item does not go in the blue recycling bin or the green compost bin, that DOES NOT mean it automatically goes into the trash bin.

Keep the following items OUT OF the brown trash cart:

• Rocks

• Dirt concrete

• Gravel

• Construction debris

• Hazardous waste (solvents, paints, batteries, automotive fluids, fluorescent light bulbs, pool chemicals)

What do you do with these items? The city of Austin has a Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, where you can drop off many items, like the ones above, to be recycled, reused or safely discarded. You can also pick up free items to reuse yourself. Most Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center services are free to Austin/Travis County residents, but some services have a fee. Learn more in the link above!

Collection and Recycling Tips:

• Remember, collection guidelines include setting out your cart by 5:30 a.m. on collection day and not bagging your recycling items.

• If your green cart is full, you can bag extra yard trimmings in lawn-and-leaf paper bags for curbside collection.

• Always place clean paper products in your blue recycling cart for proper recycling into new paper products.

Let's all do our part today, and every day, to recycle and compost responsibly. By making small changes in our daily habits, we can contribute to a cleaner, greener Austin. Together, we can make a positive impact on our community and the planet. Happy recycling and composting, y'all! 🌱♻️