Austin has recently implemented a policy prohibiting restaurants from disposing of their food waste, moving closer to Austin’s goal of becoming a zero-waste city.
This week, a law came into force requiring businesses to donate unconsumed food items, send scraps to farms for composting purposes or compost them - Break It Down is helping businesses with this initiative.
The Green Vision of Austin
At a city that prides itself on being progressive and eco-friendly, a new law prohibiting restaurants from disposing of food scraps marks a further step toward zero waste. The rule, implemented as part of the city’s Universal Recycling Ordinance on Oct 1, requires food-permitted businesses (bars, groceries stores, farmers markets, restaurants and day cares) to divert organic materials such as leftover food scraps from landfills.
The ordinance gives restaurants several options for diverting waste, including donating usable food to homeless shelters and soup kitchens, sending food waste scraps directly to local farms for animal feeding or composting on-site or with an organic collection provider, or composting on-site or with an organic collection provider. Restaurants must educate employees and post visible signage regarding the new regulations. Furthermore, two free training sessions for owners/managers of restaurants/commercial properties to develop and implement food waste diversion programs will also be hosted by the city.
Harm emphasizes the importance of diverting organic waste away from landfills to protect both the environment and local communities by limiting methane emissions generated as it breaks down in soil. His goal is to keep as much material out of waste streams so it does not end up at landfills where its decay could take several hundred years before being broken down by microbes or bacteria.
Since a 2015 study determined that more than 85 percent of the city’s trash and recycling came from commercial businesses, multifamily properties and food service businesses - of which 37 percent consisted of organic material that could have been donated or composted - the city has prioritized restaurants as part of its effort to curb food waste.
The city’s goal is to have all its curbside waste—including compostable items like food scraps, yard trimmings and soiled paper—composted by 2040. To achieve this goal, they have initiated and expanded a curbside composting program that began this June to assist over 90,000 residents easily divert organic material away from landfill. It is part of their efforts toward zero waste initiatives such as banning plastic straws and mandating businesses to use paper towels.
Curbside Composting Collection Program
Texas Capital City became the first in Texas to pass a local ordinance prohibiting restaurants from disposing of food waste in landfills, thus forcing businesses to find other methods for responsibly disposing of organic material. This move forms part of the city’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance which seeks to decrease landfill trash by 90% by 2040.
According to a 2015 study, 85 percent of the waste and recycling sent directly from businesses to landfills comes from commercial buildings, multifamily properties and food service establishments - of which 37 percent could have been donated or composted instead.
Austin created an organic waste collection program to combat this issue and enable businesses to lower their disposal rates. Green carts in Austin collect food waste, soiled paper, yard trimmings and other organic material before being picked up by private haulers for processing into nutrient-rich compost. Austin provides free online signs and educational resources for businesses to assist with adopting its new waste management practices.
Restaurants who fail to comply with the new waste management laws could face fines of up to $2,000. As an incentive for participation, the city offers financial aid packages to businesses meeting certain criteria.
Organic waste collection services provided by the city of Philadelphia are open to food-permitted businesses with private waste haulers. Businesses may choose among several options for disposing of their organic waste, including donating usable food to homeless shelters and soup kitchens; selling scraps to local farms and ranches for composting or animal feeding; or composting it on-site.
Partnering with a local recycling or composting business to manage their program can be more cost-effective than hiring staff and purchasing bins, plus education and training to help restaurants implement new laws. Businesses may hire employees to sort waste, which may prove simpler than expected; food scraps should be placed into an approved waste receptacle outside employee work areas.
Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance
Austin businesses serving food are now required to donate or compost organic waste as part of Austin’s effort to reach zero waste by 2040. This new law took effect October 1 and applies to any operation with a food permit such as restaurants, food trucks, grocery stores and farmers markets - with the goal of keeping organic waste such as food scraps and paper out of landfills.
A 2015 study discovered that 37 percent of materials sent to landfills in Washington D.C. were organic materials that could have been donated or composted instead. Under a new law, restaurants must consider alternatives like donating leftover food items to shelters or soup kitchens, sending food scraps directly to local animal farms or ranches for recycling, or composting at either their own location or with an organic collection service provider. Furthermore, restaurants are required to educate employees regarding their diversion plan as well as post signage in both English and Spanish in accordance with these requirements in accordance with this new legislation.
This law seeks to extend the lifespan of local landfills, reduce their environmental impacts and foster economic development. It supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy by outlining ways food and organic waste can be put to good use rather than ending up in a landfill. Implementation will be phased-in over three years to allow time for companies to adjust.
Businesses registering to take part must register online through the City. After registration, the city will provide them with their pickup schedule and educational resources to help comply with law. In addition, businesses must provide regular employee education and post informational signs regarding recycling practices on-site as well as submit an organic diversion plan annually - failing which they could face fines of up to $5000 per infraction.
Break It Down is an Austin-based compost hauler serving over 500 restaurants and commercial kitchens, and has seen more calls from customers wanting to start compost programs due to the law. Costs may differ based on a business’ size and facilities.
Austin Resource Recovery’s current recycling program already collects some organic waste such as coffee grounds and tea bags and sends it for processing to Round Rock. A pilot program began collecting this material in December 2012; today it accounts for roughly half of all organic waste collected by the city. Over time it will expand to cover all curbside customers of Austin Resource Recovery curbside recycling programs.
How Austin Businesses are Adapting
Local businesses have made great efforts to adapt to the new law, including donating organic waste to food banks and soup kitchens, selling scraps to farms for composting purposes or as animal feed, or teaming up with companies providing food-waste collection services.
Cities across the nation are ramping up efforts to reduce food waste in landfills. Austin, Texas stands as an example, being the first city in Texas to pass legislation prohibiting restaurants from throwing away any edible material that can be reused or composted. This new law went into effect on October 1 and applies to restaurants, markets, shops that serve made-to-order meals as well as those who prepare or process it; also retailers and farmers’ markets who must find alternative means of disposing their organic waste such as compost or waste removal services.
Alongside its organic waste ban, New York City’s newly expanded residential curbside composting program makes it easier for residents to reduce waste by giving each household a green cart to fill with food scraps, yard trimmings and soiled paper waste. Over 90,000. households can now access this subsidized service which should become fully available by 2020.
Austin is making it easier for restaurants to divert waste. In September, Austin expanded their agri-waste curbside program to permit meat and dairy recycling - helping achieve Austin’s goal of decreasing food-related waste by 30% by 2040.
To do so, the city is offering training and resources to businesses to find cost-effective methods of reducing food waste. A representative for the waste agency said they are dedicated to finding sustainable solutions that work for companies of all sizes, and will host two workshops this month for those curious about exploring what options exist to them for diverting food waste away.
Austin’s food-waste policy comes on the heels of a 2015 study which determined that over 85 percent of trash and recycling in Austin came from commercial businesses, multifamily properties, and the food service industry - with 37 percent being compostable organic material.
In Conclusion
Overall, Austin’s organic waste ordinance is a significant step toward becoming a zero-waste city. By mandating that businesses donate unconsumed food items, send scraps to farms for composting purposes, or compost them, the city is helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. The curbside composting collection program is also a key part of this effort, making it easier for residents to divert organic material away from landfills. While there are certainly challenges to implementing such a program, including educating businesses and residents about the new regulations and finding cost-effective methods of reducing food waste, the benefits are clear. By reducing the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills, Austin is helping to protect the environment and local communities.
In addition to the environmental benefits, Austin’s organic waste ordinance is also an example of how local governments can work with businesses to achieve sustainability goals. By offering resources and training to help businesses find cost-effective methods of reducing food waste, the city is demonstrating a commitment to finding sustainable solutions that work for companies of all sizes. This approach could serve as a model for other cities looking to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability. Overall, Austin’s organic waste ordinance is an important step toward creating a more sustainable future, and it will be interesting to see how the city continues to build on this success in the years to come.