Austin Curbside Recycling: Accepted Materials List

Austin residents are key to the city’s commitment to sustainability. Knowing precisely what belongs in your blue curbside recycling cart—and what doesn’t—is the foundation for effective waste diversion and minimizing landfill contributions. Incorrectly placed items, often called contaminants, can compromise an entire load of recyclables, wasting city resources and nullifying recycling efforts.

This guide offers clear, actionable insights to help you effectively use Austin’s curbside recycling system, ensuring your contributions foster a more sustainable community.

Understanding Austin’s Curbside Recycling Basics

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) manages the city’s curbside recycling program, designed to efficiently collect common household recyclables. Its fundamental purpose is to recover valuable materials from the waste stream, reduce landfill volume, and promote a circular economy. The program relies on residents to sort and prepare materials correctly, as collected items are processed at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that separates them for reuse by manufacturers.

Accepted Materials: What Definitely Goes in Your Blue Cart

For an item to be accepted, it must be clean, dry, and fit loosely in the blue cart. Here’s a breakdown of the specific categories:

• Paper Products:
  • Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail (including window envelopes)
  • Phone books, paperback books (no hardcover books)
  • Office paper, shredded paper (place in a clear plastic bag and tie securely to prevent scattering)
  • Paperboard (e.g., cereal boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel rolls – remove liners)
• Cardboard:
  • Corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened to save space)
  • Clean pizza boxes (remove any food residue and greasy liners)
• Plastics (Rigid Containers Only):
  • Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs marked with a #1 or #2 recycling symbol.
  • Examples include milk jugs, soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles, yogurt containers, butter tubs, and clear plastic produce containers.
• Metal:
  • Aluminum cans (soda, beer, food cans)
  • Steel/tin cans (soup, vegetable cans)
  • Clean aluminum foil and aluminum pie plates (ball aluminum foil into a fist-sized ball)
• Glass:
  • Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars (e.g., beverage bottles, food jars).
  • Rinse them thoroughly to remove food residue.

Unaccepted Materials: The Common Contaminants to Avoid

Placing non-recyclable items in your blue cart, often termed “wishcycling,” can contaminate an entire load and damage recycling machinery. These items do not belong in your blue cart:

• Plastic Bags & Plastic Film: These wrap around machinery and are a major problem. Take them to grocery store drop-offs.
• Styrofoam: All forms, including cups, packing peanuts, and food containers.
• Food Waste: Leftover food, liquids, and heavily soiled containers.
• Electronics (E-waste): Computers, TVs, phones, cables.
• Hazardous Waste: Batteries, light bulbs, paint, chemicals, motor oil.
• Clothing & Textiles: Donate or take to specialized textile recycling.
• Diapers, Medical Waste, Syringes: These are not recyclable and pose health risks.
• Ceramics, Pottery, Dishes, Pyrex, Window Glass, Mirrors: These have different melting points than bottle glass.
• Plastic Utensils, Straws, Toys, Garden Hoses, Cords: These are not rigid #1 or #2 plastics and often get tangled.
• Batteries: Take to household hazardous waste drop-offs.
• Scrap Metal: Items like pots, pans, tools.

Common Curbside Recycling Mistakes in Austin

Even with the best intentions, certain actions can undermine the recycling process. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Bagging recyclables: Placing accepted items inside plastic bags, which jams sorting machinery.
• Not rinsing containers: Leaving food or liquid residue contaminates other materials and attracts pests.
• Wishcycling: Putting non-accepted items (e.g., plastic toys, garden hoses, Styrofoam) into the blue cart hoping they will be recycled.
• Including flexible plastics: Assuming all plastic is recyclable, including plastic film, wraps, or pouches.
• Recycling food-soiled paper/cardboard: Pizza boxes with grease stains or wet paper products are contaminants.

Recycling Preparation Rules: Clean, Dry, and Loose

Proper preparation is essential for your recyclables to be successfully processed. Follow these guidelines:

• Rinse Containers: Quickly rinse all food and beverage containers (plastic, glass, metal) to remove residue. A small amount of liquid is fine, but no food chunks.
• Flatten Cardboard: Break down and flatten all cardboard boxes to conserve space in your cart and assist with collection.
• Keep It Loose: Place all accepted recyclables directly into your blue cart. Do not bag them, unless it’s shredded paper placed in a clear plastic bag.
• Remove Lids: Generally, plastic lids smaller than 3 inches in diameter should be discarded as trash. Larger plastic lids can often be recycled if still attached to the bottle/jug, or placed loose if they are a #1 or #2 plastic.

Your Austin Curbside Recycling Decision Checklist

Before tossing an item into your blue cart, quickly run through this checklist:

• Is the item clean and dry, free of food residue or liquids?
• Is it a rigid plastic container marked #1 or #2?
• Is it clean paper or cardboard, free of wax, grease, or food stains?
• Is it a clear, brown, or green glass bottle or jar?
• Is it an aluminum or steel can, or clean aluminum foil?
• Is it not a plastic bag, Styrofoam, or electronic item?
• Does it fit loosely in the blue cart without being bagged?

Beyond Curbside: Austin’s Drop-Off and Special Recycling Options

For items not accepted in the blue cart, Austin offers numerous alternative solutions to help you recycle responsibly:

• Plastic Film & Bags: Many local grocery stores have drop-off bins for clean, dry plastic bags, wraps, and film.
• Electronics (E-waste): Austin residents can drop off electronics at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center (RRDOC).
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): The RRDOC also accepts HHW like paint, batteries, motor oil, and chemicals by appointment.
• Clothing & Textiles: Several local charities and specialized textile recyclers accept used clothing and fabrics.
• Composting: Austin Resource Recovery offers a curbside composting program for food scraps and yard trimmings, keeping organic waste out of the landfill.

How to Verify in Austin, Texas Today

Staying up-to-date with recycling guidelines is crucial, as rules can sometimes change. Here’s how you can verify specific items right now:

1. Use the “What’s In, What’s Out” Tool: Visit the official Austin Resource Recovery website and use their interactive search tool. Simply type in an item, and it will tell you whether it’s accepted, rejected, or has a special drop-off location.
2. Download the Austin Resource Recovery App: The “Austin Recycles” app (available for iOS and Android) offers a quick lookup feature for items, collection schedules, and facility information directly from your smartphone.
3. Contact Austin 3-1-1: If you have a question about a specific, unusual item, or need clarification, call Austin 3-1-1. Their service representatives can provide direct guidance.

Official Resources for Austin Recycling Information

For the most current and comprehensive information on recycling in Austin, always refer to the official sources:

• Austin Resource Recovery Website: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-resource-recovery
• “What’s In, What’s Out” Search Tool: Look for the dedicated recycling guide on their website.
• Austin Recycles App: Search for “Austin Recycles” in your device’s app store.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I recycle shredded paper in my blue cart?

Yes, shredded paper is accepted, but it must be contained in a clear plastic bag that is tied securely. This prevents the small pieces from scattering and jamming machinery.

What about pizza boxes? Are they recyclable?

Pizza boxes are generally recyclable if they are clean and free of excessive grease and food residue. If the box has greasy spots, tear off the clean parts for recycling and dispose of the soiled portions in the trash or compost (if you have curbside composting service).

Do I need to remove labels from jars and bottles before recycling?

No, it’s not necessary to remove labels from glass bottles and jars or plastic containers. The recycling process accounts for these during sorting and cleaning.