Waste Management Services in Austin, TX
Find trusted dumpster rental, junk removal, septic pumping, and specialty services in Austin. Compare verified providers and get free quotes.
Waste Management Services in Austin, Texas
Austin Resource Recovery serves 978K+ residents with comprehensive zero waste programs. The city generates approximately 1.9 million tons of MSW annually with mandatory curbside composting expanding citywide. Austin has set aggressive zero waste goals targeting 90% diversion by 2040 with innovative waste reduction initiatives.
Residential Service
Tiered rates based on cart sizes. Includes weekly trash, recycling, composting. Additional carts available. Billed through Austin utilities.
Dumpster Rental
20-yard, 7-day rental
Providers
Licensed haulers serving Austin
Waste Haulers Serving Austin
Compare licensed waste management providers offering residential, commercial, and specialty services in Austin:
Austin Resource Recovery
municipal- Residential collection
- Recycling
- Composting
- Bulky items
Texas Disposal Systems
regional- Commercial collection
- Dumpster rental
- Zero waste solutions
Waste Connections
national- Commercial collection
- Organics collection
- Roll-off containers
Balcones Resources
regional- Recycling processing
- Commercial recycling
- Material recovery
Austin Waste Management Costs
Understand typical pricing for waste services in Austin. Costs vary by provider, service level, and property type.
Residential Services
Tiered rates based on cart sizes. Includes weekly trash, recycling, composting. Additional carts available. Billed through Austin utilities.
Commercial Services
Private haulers. Competitive Austin market. Mandatory organics diversion for food businesses. Varies by service level.
Dumpster Rental
7-day rental. Competitive Texas pricing. Booming construction sector. Lower than coastal cities.
Junk Removal
Quarter truck ~$170-$290, half truck $290-$425, full truck $480-$680. Eco-friendly disposal options popular.
Austin Waste Regulations & Requirements
Dumpster Permits
Dumpster permits required from Austin Transportation Department for public right-of-way placement. Fees vary. Private property placement no permit.
Recycling Requirements
Three-cart system provided: blue (recycling), green (composting), black (trash). Weekly collection of all streams. Mandatory organics separation for food businesses.
Special Regulations
- Commercial food businesses must divert organics - compliance required by Oct 2024
- Multifamily properties must provide composting collection - mandatory as of Oct 2024
- Curbside composting expanded to 200K+ homes - citywide rollout continuing
- On-demand bulky item, brush, and HHW collection - schedule online or via app
- Austin Recycles app for schedules, reminders, waste wizard
- Zero Waste Master Plan targets 90% diversion by 2040
Recycling in Austin
Austin provides three-cart system for comprehensive waste diversion. Blue cart for recyclables (weekly), green cart for compostables including food scraps and yard waste (weekly), black cart for landfill trash (weekly). Innovative programs support zero waste goals.
Accepted Materials
- Recycling: Paper, cardboard, cartons, coated paper products (new)
- Recycling: Plastic #1-7, glass bottles & jars, metal cans
- Composting: All food scraps, meat, dairy, bones, bread, grains
- Composting: Yard trimmings, leaves, branches, food-soiled paper, natural fibers
Not Accepted
- Plastic bags & film
- Styrofoam
- Electronics (free drop-off at designated locations)
- Batteries (HHW collection)
- Hazardous materials (on-demand HHW pickup)
- Construction debris (dumpster rental)
Special Waste Programs in Austin
Take advantage of these specialized collection and disposal programs available to Austin residents:
Curbside Composting Collection
Expanding citywide composting program. Green carts accept all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste. Processed into high-quality compost. Over 200K homes enrolled.
Free green cart provided | austintexas.gov/composting
On-Demand Collection
Schedule free pickup of bulky items, brush, and household hazardous waste via Austin Recycles app or website. Convenient alternative to drop-off.
Schedule at austintexas.gov or Austin Recycles app | (512) 494-9400
MoveOutATX Donation Stations
Seasonal donation stations for reusable items during student move-out periods. Diverts furniture and household goods from landfill to local nonprofits.
May-August annually | zerowasteatx.com
Free Furniture Market
Monthly event where residents exchange reusable furniture and household items. Promotes reuse and community sharing. Zero waste initiative.
Schedule at austintexas.gov/freefurniture
Circular Austin
Business program supporting circular economy principles. Technical assistance for waste reduction, recycling improvements, and zero waste strategies.
austintexas.gov/circularaustin | (512) 494-9400
What Makes Austin Waste Management Unique
- Zero Waste by 2040 goal - pioneering 90% landfill diversion target among major US cities
- Expanding curbside composting reaching 200K+ homes - comprehensive food scrap collection
- Mandatory organics diversion for all food businesses - aggressive commercial requirements
- On-demand bulky item and HHW pickup - convenient app-based scheduling
- Rapid population growth (fastest growing large city) straining infrastructure
- Live music capital and entertainment district create unique event waste challenges
- Tech sector and startup culture drive innovation in sustainability and circular economy
- Hot Texas climate requires frequent collection and odor management
Contact Austin Waste Services
Get help with waste collection, recycling questions, or service requests:
Austin Resource Recovery
Austin Recycles App Support
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