Austin Zero Waste Plan

AUSTIN- Austins Zero Waste Advisory Commission voted Thursday to

propose that Austin require all restaurants, including food trucks, to
compost and recycle waste.
The Committee has approved a plan to be pitched to the Austin City
Council in the near future that will amend the Austin Land
Development Code, giving permanent direction on recycling rules for
food establishments.
The plan is being proposed as a part of the Zero Waste goal to reduce
the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90 percent by the year 2040. It
aims to focus on reducing trash and reusing products before recycling
and composting the remains.
Food truck vendors say the plan will hopefully benefit their businesses,
as it will reduce foul smelling trash that turns customers away.
Committee Chair Fayez Kazi assessed the issue from a zoning and code
compliance perspective, acknowledging conflicts such as requirements
that waste containers be attached to the trailer but not too close to
food preparation.
Currently, zoning regulations do not prohibit food trailers from having
waste containers, Kazi said. The trailers are categorized as mobile
and there is no provision for permanent recycling or composting
structures on the grounds where they are parked.

The plan aims to take all types of waste into consideration from
greasy, grey water to recyclable and organic materials suitable for
composting. The procedures practice to reduce city costs and benefit
the environment.
Shawn Mansur, an active volunteer for the commission and owner of
Bin There Dump That supports the plan but says it will fail if not
everybody participates.
One persons trash is another persons treasure, Mansur said. We
believe everything is a resource for someone else and therefore
everybody in this city needs to be involved.
The plan has already made a strong impact, with about 14,000 Austin
households participating in the Curbside Organics Collection Pilot,
which collects organic materials at the curb and turns them into
nutrient- compost.
Bailey Galiano, a resident of Rainey Street, participates in the pilot and
believes that composting regulations for businesses will be highly
beneficial in regards to waste reduction.
The bill would make a huge difference to the smell of the area,
Galiano said. The trash where I live is pretty disgusting and I think I
can speak for the majority of the residents in this area when I say
change is certainly needed.

Some Rainey Street food truck owners say they have been so
concerned with the build-up of trash in the area that they have
resorted to hiring workers to clean up the mess.
Sal Salinas, owner of Firefly Pizza Pies, says he would be in favor of a
plan requiring recycling and composting, as he believes it will reduce
the smells, eyesores and flies that come with the current trash
overflow.
After business here last night, not only was it three feet flowing over,
but there were trash bags all around, Salinas said. I am very
frustrated. This has been going on for a long time now. I am hoping
this regulation will be passed.
Salinas has contacted the city of Austin to file a formal complaint
regarding the issues and says he will continue to pay the $175 monthly
for services until the regulation is approved by the City Council.
The Commission completed the final draft for the plan following the
meeting and will propose the bill to the Austin City Council before June.
They hope that the plan is completely phased in by the beginning of
2016.