Austin to require composting at apartment complexes

On September 21, 2023, the Austin City Council unanimously approved a Universal Recycling Ordinance amendment that will require composting collection at multifamily communities. The amendment, which goes into effect in October of 2024, requires multifamily properties, including condos, apartment complexes, dorms, and assisted living facilities with at least five living units, to provide residents with “convenient access” to composting, a gallon of compositing capacity per unit, and tenant education on composting. The City of Austin will provide up to $3,000 in rebates to properties that exceed the minimum requirements of the amendment. 

During composting, organic waste, including food or brush, is collected to decompose into mature compose, which is subsequently used in soil to grow crops and other plants. Beyond the benefit of diverting waste from landfills, composting reduces methane emissions from landfills, contributes to higher crop yields, and aids in habitat revitalization and carbon sequestration. 

In 2018, only food-permitted businesses were required to offer composting, and in 2021, the City of Austin completed the implementation of its compost collection program for single-family homes. However, a 2015 study found that 85% of Austin waste came from commercial or multifamily properties, and 37% of that waste was compostable. According to the director of Austin Resource Recovery, Richard Hale, more than half of Austin residents live in multifamily properties. Increasing access to composting education and services will help Austin reach its Zero Waste goal. As of 2021, Austin had reduced the amount of trash sent to landfills by 41.96%, but the city’s goal is to reduce by 90% by the year 2040.