RECYCLE. But...

I have a bone to pick. Was it just a misconception that Austin is an especially eco-conscience, earth-friendly, waste-reducing city? I had heard that I was entering the city limits of a leader in the fight against waste. My expectations were high.

Though Austin is the home of Whole Foods and "green homes" exist in every neighborhood, as far as Austin's recycling program goes, it has been found wanting. When I called to set up my trash pick-up, I was shocked to find out that the only thing I can recycle in the tiny bin provided, were plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans bearing the numbers 1 and 2. Sure, you can recycle paper and cardboard, as long as you provide your own paper or cardboard receptacle. (Despite the website, they do not offer an additional blue bin anymore.) This still leaves items like dairy tubs (whether or not they bear the correct numbers)and egg cartons in the trash.

Back home, Seattle, and as far as I know, every surrounding city, has implemented the all-in-one recycling bin. Because of how easy it is to recycle virtually everything, including most plastics bearing several numbers, non-recyclable waste can potentially be reduced to nearly nothing.

Today, on the City of Austin website, you will find a "Zero Waste Challenge". I applaud the city for encouraging recycling and asking for input on how the public is already doing it. In my opinion, it seems early to start a "Zero Waste Challenge" that ends this month, when the tools for us to reduce our waste to zero or nearly zero are not available to us.

I read that in October, Austin will be implementing the all-in-one paper/glass/plastic rolling cart idea. What goes in the recycling cart?

Paper: (newspaper, office paper, junk mail, cereal and soft drink boxes, corrugated cardboard)
Aluminum and metal cans: food cans (labels left on OK), soda cans
Glass: Jars and bottles
Rigid plastics: # 1 through # 7, including yogurt and margarine tubs

What cannot be recycled?
Plastic bags, Styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, take-out containers)

HOORAY!

Upon exploring the City of Austin website, I came across another ray of hope: Austin's Green District. From what I can tell, it looks like Austin will be creating a community where they will model different environmentally-friendly practices such as recycling and composting.

For more information on what you can recycle and where it goes, see this Flyer.

One last comment. I'm green with envy (pun intended) that Portland offers their citizens a compost bin for $35! They're another city making it easy for consumers to narrow down their waste.