Austin's Zero Waste Goal: How food waste regulations fit into the bigger picture
When it comes to resource conservation, Austin has one of the most ambitious plans for handling waste in the entire world.
Within the framework of the Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Comprehensive Plan of 2023, the city has set a target of diverting 90% of all waste from landfills by 2040.
That’s a lot of waste that’s going to have to go somewhere… and a large portion of it is food waste. And that’s where Moonshot Compost comes in.
We make it easy for Austin businesses to stay compliant with the regulations the city has imposed–and may impose in the future–to help it reach its goals.
By partnering with us, you can rest easy knowing you’re doing your part to keep Austin green.
Understanding Austin’s Zero Waste Goal
Under the city’s definition of zero waste, only items ineligible for recycling, composting, reuse, repair, or donation should end up in landfills. This means 90% of all waste currently being sent to landfills, including food, must be diverted.
As Austin was registering just a 37% diversion rate citywide in 2020, zero waste is a lofty goal.
The ARR recognizes the huge importance of dealing with food waste in reaching their goals, noting in the 2023 plan that approximately 37% of material going to Austin landfills is organic, which includes food scraps, yard trimmings, food-soiled paper, and untreated wood.
But it also acknowledges the difficulty of creating standards for commercial and multifamily properties when there is such a variety of operations among food-permitted businesses. Tracking tonnage data for the commercial sector is also a challenge, since the ARR does not service it like it does the residential sector.
No doubt that’s why the plan’s top near-term goal for creating a circular economy is “Engage businesses, restaurants, and multifamily properties on the topics of circular economy, economic development, and City code.”
The role of food waste diversion in waste reduction
Because of the way landfills work–with waste permanently piled on top of waste–organic material like food scraps doesn’t break down like it does in a compost pile, which is aerated through regular turning.
Instead, it decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), producing methane—a greenhouse gas that is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, and a major contributor to human-caused climate change.
On top of this, there are the obvious problems that waste in landfills represent: giant pits of rotting garbage that are an eyesore, a nose-sore (to coin a phrase), and a potential source of groundwater contamination.
And the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) region, which includes Austin, has 24 years of remaining landfill capacity, giving it the second-lowest capacity in the state.
Cities like Austin typically take a ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to help drive food waste reduction among the business community. Incentives such as the Austin Green Business Leaders program rewards participating businesses with a decal, eligibility for inclusion in a sustainable business directory, rebates and other financial incentives, and technical consulting.
The other side of the coin is regulatory enforcement, which until recently has been largely based on self-reporting, although that may no longer be the case…
Austin’s food waste regulations – what businesses need to know
Long-time Austin business owners will be familiar with the abbreviation URO. Short for Universal Recycling Ordinance, it was adopted in 2010 and first took effect in late 2012, although it wasn't fully phased in until 2018.
Under the ordinance, food-permitted business owners have to annually submit a plan to ensure employees have convenient access to diversion methods for organic materials. This includes a requirement to offer food donation or composting to employees.
Commercial business and multifamily property owners have to submit their own plans to ensure that all tenants, residents, and employees have access to recycling. URO violations are a Class C misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $2,000 per day, per offense.
In 2020, the ARR created and staffed the two-person Commercial Compliance Unit (CCU) to enforce the URO. Inspections began in early 2021, with the unit conducting 742 site visits by year’s end. However, as the 2023 plan notes, there are 17,000 properties covered by the URO.
Business owners have their own challenges with the ordinance. We know from conversations with many Austin business owners that their compliance challenges include understanding the regulations, training their teams, knowing where to place bins, and dealing with pests. In short, it can be complicated and expensive to keep up with it all on their own.
And looking ahead, the 2023 plan mentions:
the ARR’s intention to require accurate data measurements in all waste collection contracts (which may increase collection costs)
efforts to increase enforcement resources in the near-term, including staff and technology via the CCU
the possibility of also requiring diversion access for customers at commercial properties, not just employees
considering fees for businesses that routinely contaminate their composting submissions
exploring the implementation of a multifamily composting policy
considering adding organics diversion requirements for businesses that generate organic waste but do not have food permits.
How Moonshot Compost helps Austin businesses stay compliant
Moonshot’s turnkey composting solutions are designed to help your business satisfy the URO’s requirements. The details of our program can essentially serve as your plan that must be submitted to the city every year. So, for example, on the subject of staff training, you can state that your professional composting service provides your employee diversion training. Easy!
If you’re not familiar with our service, here’s how it works:
You collect your food waste in a Moonshot-provided container (or containers).
We pick up the food waste on a scheduled basis, swapping containers with clean ones.
The food waste is composted at commercial facilities.
And all your diversion data is tracked and reported via Moonshot’s Diversion Dashboard.
So you get hassle-free food waste diversion, while data-driven reporting measures your sustainability impact for your customers, shareholders, the ARR, and anyone else who wants to know.
The business benefits of food waste diversion
Working with Moonshot has so many great perks, including…
Sustainability boost: Reach your ESG goals faster and easier than ever before with measurable impact data.
Improved reputation: You can enhance your brand image as an environmentally responsible business and take your place among Austin’s green business leaders.
Wider talent reach: Both native Austinites and people who have moved to Austin generally care about the environment, and they often want to work for companies that share their values.
Engage better with employees: Similarly, once they’re part of your team, your employees will likely want to see the company’s values put into action on a daily basis, and what better way than to compost!
Make zero waste a reality
The circular economy movement is steaming ahead in Austin, and now is the perfect time to get on-board.
Whether yours is a food-permitted business or you just want to deal responsibly with the organic waste you produce at your facility, partnering with Moonshot is a proactive step you can take today to align your operations with sustainable practices.
