ReNews June 2014

ReNews Vol. 3 Issue 1

AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY NEWS

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH Building strong relationships in our community will help us reach Zero Waste. Your hard work and great customer service serves as a solid foundation for that bond.

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n this edition of ReNews I desire to highlight how our Department reaches out to the Austin community and how all of you make a difference in the quality of our services.

Austin is a city built on a strong sense of community. Our operations crews have the unique responsibility of visiting nearly every residence in Austin throughout the course of a week. These neighborhoods rely on us to help keep their neighborhoods clean and that’s why it’s important for us to provide them with the best service we can. These routes are made up of our friends, families, neighbors, customers, stakeholders and advocates. Just as they depend on us, we depend on them to help us accomplish our goals.

On the streets, Operations crews are our eyes and ears. They provide us with a firsthand account of what is happening in our communities. Residents frequently communicate to them what matters in their neighborhoods, what we can do differently and what they appreciate. Flip to the Kudos section in the back to read about the positive impact our employees have on the community every day.

It’s important that we put energy and thoughtfulness into our communications with the public. One way we communicate is through community outreach. Before we go any further, let’s define community outreach. Simply put, it’s raising public awareness of an issue or program through targeted community interaction.

The method of outreach depends on the project.

Our Department benefits from having multiple divisions that communicate with the public regularly. The channels of communication span from Customer Service to Operations to Strategic Initiatives. Other staff behind the scenes also provide support for our community outreach efforts. For example, in preparation for the recent expansion of the Curbside Organics Collection Pilot, staff from the Strategic Initiatives Division and Operations hosted neighborhood meetings in each area. This allowed residents to ask us any questions they had about a program that’s new and unfamiliar to them. Another recent example of community outreach was the Austin Recycles Pledge campaign. For this campaign, staff attended 16 events throughout the City asking residents to pledge to recycle every day, every thing and everywhere. You can read more about both of these efforts in this issue.

The Business Outreach team also works closely with Austin’s business community to start effective recycling programs and ensure they comply with the City’s Zero Waste ordinances.

The team recently hosted the first of many recycling bin giveaways. They distributed almost 200 recycling bins to a local apartment complex and talked with residents about how they can recycle more at home. All apartments and multifamily complexes will be required to have recycling programs by 2017 under the Universal Recycling Ordinance. The Business Outreach Continued on pg. 8

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CONTENTS

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Features

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SPRING CLEANING SAFETY

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5 simple tips to stay safe during spring cleaning

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER SAUCEDO

ANNUAL REPORT 2013 RELEASED Recapping milestones, achievements and programs from an important year on our Zero Waste journey

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AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY GOES THE EXTRA MILE AT SXSW

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A FRESH TAKE ON WATER CONSERVATION Learn how Facilities Maintenance is helping save water during the drought

KUDOS A job well done deserves recognition.

Kudos and compliments to ARR staff for doing a great job

Crews work diligently to keep Austin clean during the festival

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SECOND PHASE OF ORGANICS PILOT BEGINS Pilot rolls out to additional 6,500 households

Austinites stepped up by pledging to recycle every day, everything and everywhere

Get to know Jennifer Saucedo, litter abatement crew leader

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MORE THAN 1,000 AUSTINITES PLEDGE TO RECYCLE

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NEW COMMERCIAL RECYCLING REBATE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES A new rebate helps small businesses get ready for the Universal Recycling Ordinance SPRING 2014 | ReNews 3

SAFETY

TOP 5 SPRING CLEANING SAFETY TIPS By: Debbie Kelton

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Spring is here, and as the days get longer, gardening, home maintenance and spring cleaning are on many weekend agendas.

1. Do not rush because you are tired or in a hurry.

This is really the most basic spring cleaning safety tip. Spring cleaning can be tiring work.

Don’t forget safety even if you’ve worked hard all day and just want to finish quickly. The best thing to do when you’re exhausted is to stop and take a break, drink a glass of water, sit under a nice cool fan and rest.

2. Be careful moving large pieces of furniture and appliances.

Always use proper lifting technique, keep your back straight and lift with your legs. Wear shoes when moving heavy items to protect your feet.

Finally, if an item is too heavy and you can’t find someone else to help you, don’t move it.

3. Be safe while on ladders and step stools.

If you’re painting, washing windows or changing your smoke detector and you need to be on a ladder use extreme caution. Don’t lean too far to either side of the ladder. A good rule of thumb is that your belly button should not go beyond the sides of the ladder. Also, have someone available to hold the ladder steady for you. Make sure the ladder is dry and wear nonskid shoes.

4. Be careful when walking on wet surfaces.

We all know how easy it is to slip on a wet floor.

Make sure to take the proper precautions to keep from falling. Also, make sure others in your family, including children, are also warned of the wet floor to keep them safe. You may need to block small children’s access to wet 4 ReNews | SPRING 2014

floors because they just don’t understand not to run and slide on them.

5. Always follow cleaning product label safety instructions and recommendations.

Cleaning supplies can create nasty fumes, so make sure you get some fresh air by opening windows, turning on the exhaust fan, or placing a fan in the room. In addition, do not mix ammonia and bleach together, both of which are common household cleaners, because they create toxic fumes when combined. When it doubt don’t mix, just use one product to get the job done. You should also wear rubber gloves to keep your hands from getting dry and cracked from the hot water and chemicals.

Follow these spring cleaning safety tips to have a safe and productive spring cleaning!

Remember: You can pick up many brand new or slightly used home cleaning products at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Househould Hazardous Waste Reuse Store

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

RAISING AWARENESS ONE MILE AT A TIME By: Alexandria Bruton Brent Paige, financial consultant for ARR, recently put his endurance to the test during the BP Multiple Scelrosis (MS) 150 bicycle ride. The BP MS150 is a two day 150 mile bicycle ride from Houston to Austin. The ride helps the National MS Society fund research to cure MS and help people with multiple sclerosis lead normal lives.

They also provide crucial services for people living with MS. MS is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, tremors, extreme fatigue, paralysis and more.

Brent shared his journey with us.

A 150 mile bike ride is no easy task. How did you decide to commit to this?

This was my second year participating in the MS150. Last year I did it as a challenge to myself. Over the past year I’ve found that I know a handful of people who are or know someone who is suffering from MS. Since becoming aware of these people in my life, I have shifted my focus from it being a personal challenge to a challenge to raise awareness and funds.

It sounds like a great cause. How did you prepare for the race?

This year was a little harder to train since we went through a pretty harsh winter. I trained by riding the stationary bike in the gym during my weekly PE class. I also went on a few bike rides with friends throughout Austin. I was far less physically prepared this year than I was last

year, but I was more mentally prepared since I knew what to expect.

How long did it take you to reach the finish Brent Paige on the road line?

On the first day I started at 7:a.m. and crossed the finish line in La Grange around 4:30 p.m. Including stops and lunch breaks, it took me 8.5 hours.

On day two I again started at 7 a.m. and crossed the finish line in Austin around 2 p.m. However, due to potential weather (rain and heavy winds) between our lunch stop in Bastrop and the finish line in Austin, I opted to play it safe and take the bus from Bastrop to right outside the finish line in Austin. I wasn’t equipped to ride through rain.

How did the fundraising part of the challenge go?

The average rider raises around $1,000. Last year I was able to raise $1,800. This year I have collected $785, but I also have almost that much pledged but not yet collected. Luckily, I have until the end of June to collect all of my funds!

Do you plan to ride again next year?

I would love to! It’s a fun challenge for a worthy cause. It’s difficult, but it pales in comparison to the difficulties faced by people living with MS.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

JENNIFER SAUCEDO, LITTER ABATEMENT CREW LEADER By: Marissa Monroy It’s the people of ARR who make our Department great. In this edition of ReNews we profile Jennifer Saucedo, one of the employees featured in the 2013 Annual Report.

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owntown Austin is as still as it ever will be when Jennifer Saucedo starts her 10-hour shift at 2:30 in the morning.

“It’s a whole other world at that time,” Jennifer said. “I can stand in the middle of Congress and not a single car goes by. I can appreciate everything you don’t see when traffic is flying by and businesses are open.”

What is also more visible is the trash left behind by the previous night’s revelry. Using blowers and sweepers, Jennifer and her crew of 11 comb the streets meticulously picking up debris left behind. Litter, discarded food, cigarette butts and other trash gets blown off the sidewalks into the streets where a sweeper – moving just 5 to 7 miles per hour - scoops it all up. Jennifer says the people operating those machines are more than just her coworkers; they’re like family.

Jennifer Saucedo begins her Downtown shift

Cleaning up Downtown Austin is just one part of her workday. By the time downtown businesses open up, Jennifer and her crew are already off to the second part of their day - clearing right-of-ways and illegal dump sites. The group also assists in yard trimmings, brush and bulky “This job is really a lesson in teamwork and collection, and special events. For special having the right attitude,” Jennifer said. “We events, like Austin’s SXSW Festival, the Litter are a really close group. Lots of us have worked Abatement group will work 12-hour days for five together for years,” Jennifer said. “And when days straight, but Jennifer doesn’t mind the work you work this shift, you really come to depend on schedule. one another.”

“It’s really fun. It’s a constant go,” Saucedo said.

Jennifer, now in her 12th year with the “These hours aren’t for everybody, but I feel like department, has done it all. She started working I’m in the best spot I can be in.” at the Department’s now-closed dual stream material recovery facility and then moved on Do you know someone you would like to see to an automated garbage operator specialist featured in a Employee Spotlight column? Send position and later to an automated recycling an e-mail to alexandria.bruton@austintexas.gov operator specialist role. with the details!

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MARKETING

2013 ANNUAL REPORT RELEASED By: Marissa Monroy For the past three months, we’ve been busy crunching numbers and compiling data for Austin Resource Recovery’s 2013 Annual Report.

With 376 employees and 12 divisions, it’s been no easy task. Creating the report has been a collaborative effort between multiple divisions, employees and managers. The Annual Report is set for release this month and includes an overview of the Department’s progress and initiatives toward Zero Waste. It also details the services provided to Austin residents and businesses.

“Austin Resource Recovery is at the forefront of the City of Austin’s commitment to Zero Waste. This move toward a more Zero Waste future would not be possible without the right people, with the right skills, working toward a shared goal of enacting and utilizing sustainable practices,” said City Manager Marc Ott. In 2013, Austin Resource Recovery demonstrated this drive by providing innovative services, drafting ground-breaking policies and offering resourceful programs to the people in this community. With the community’s help, we will continue to step up to the opportunities and challenges presented to us and evolve as a leader in sustainability.

This year’s theme includes detailed profiles of a ‘Day in the Life’ of five of our employees.

The employees were selected by department managers and include: Patrick Clark, Bobby Baker, Larry Joiner, Jennifer Saucedo and Sir Derrick Lott.

the first year of the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance • A review of the first phase of ARR’s Residential Curbside Organics Collection pilot program • An in-depth look at our department’s role and efforts in the aftermath of the Halloween floods • The latest collection numbers, including 40 percent landfill diversion and a decrease in the number of tons of trash collected • Customer satisfaction ratings that rank our department among the best in the nation “This report highlights our dedicated workforce, fully engaged to ensure that the City of Austin leads by example to achieve even the most challenging sustainable goals,” said ARR Director Bob Gedert.

Visit issuu.com/austinrecycles to view the report. You can also share it with your friends and family by ‘liking’ our Facebook page: facebook.com/austinrecycles

Other ARR highlights in the report include: • An overview of implementation efforts in SPRING 2014 | ReNews 7

MARKETING

MORE THAN 1,000 AUSTINITES PLEDGE TO RECYCLE By: Lauren Hammond

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ast fall we launched a pledge campaign to encourage Austin residents to recycle as much as possible and do their part to reach our Zero Waste goal. More than 200 ARR employees kicked off the campaign at the Employee BBQ, where you pledged to recycle every day, everything and everywhere. Then, we took the pledge campaign to the community. We attended 16 events and spoke to more than 730 Austinites during the month of November. The community reacted positively to the campaign, with one resident commenting, “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen the City do!”

In addition to community events, we promoted the campaign through neighborhood groups, Block Leaders, Keep Austin Beautiful, the ARR e-newsletter, social media and at composting classes. Radio, print, transit and online advertisements encouraged residents to pledge. The results? More than 1,000 Austinites pledged to recycle during the month-long campaign, and pledges continue to come in every week. We plan to promote the pledge again in 2014, and we

continue to provide opportunities for residents to pledge at community events.

Haven’t pledged yet? Visit austinrecycles.com to pledge online.

Residents proudly display their pledge t-shirts at a community event

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE, CONT. Our impact on the community will continue to grow as we propose new ordinances, expand our services and move closer to Zero Waste.

By establishing and fostering community relationships now, we can create long-lasting

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relationships that benefit both the public and our Department. I appreciate the professionalism our staff displays every day to the citizens of Austin.

OPERATIONS

AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY GOES THE EXTRA MILE AT SXSW By: KC Munoz

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ou know spring has arrived in Austin when the bluebonnets bloom, allergies come out in full force and South by Southwest (SXSW) starts. The festival is a 28year old Austin tradition that draws in large crowds of people from all over the globe. As the popularity of SXSW grows year after year, the amount of debris produced by attendees continues to grow as well. Thanks to the efforts of the Department’s Operations staff, garbage and litter are kept off the streets of Austin.

Our crews really go the extra mile when SXSW rolls around. Last year, ARR staff worked 23 hours a day during SXSW. We collected 12,460 lbs. of trash, 9,200 lbs. of recycling and 1,250 lbs. of compost, resulting in a 46 percent diversion rate.

This year crews were onsite 24 hours a day for 9 days making sure the city of Austin stayed clean while the crowds had their fun. Along with the additional hour of work each day, 23 trash dumpsters and 21 recycling dumpsters were added in the Central Business District. These were emptied at least once a day as needed.

We further increased our SXSW efforts this year by servicing 250 extra trash containers in the downtown area, East 5th Street, under IH-35, Rainey Street, Guadalupe Neighborhood, and the intersection of Riverside and Barton Springs. Our crews made sure to pay special attention to high traffic areas and venues. They also monitored permanent city containers on South Congress and the downtown area. When our streets look good, our City looks good. Thanks to the litter

Operations staff makes their way through the crowds

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OPERATIONS abatement crews it was another spotless and successful year for both SXSW attendees and Austin residents. This year crews collected 122,860 pounds of trash!

Thanks to all the employees who helped keep our beautiful City clean.

Eladio Romero

Jose Salas

Michael Womack

Greg Jones

Aaron Jaramillo

Louis Rodriguez

Rey Ramirez

Robert Garcia

Jesus Granjeno

Darian Johnson

Herman Dietrich

Miguel Salinas

Blanca Santander

LaPree Habbit

Jeff Mangett

Carlos Vallejo

Kevin Reed

Aaron Green

Dwight Leonard

Ismael Bryant

Derrick Steward

Greg Spence

Richard Hinojosa

Carlos Cerna

David Manor

David Yager

David Haney

Greg Mitchell

Tony Smith

Able Trevino

Jessie Morales

Kevin Haywood

Julian Lopez

Adam Valdez

Jennifer Saucedo

Patrick Clark

Greg Smith

John Lopez

Greg Karo

Josh Sanders

Steve Davis

Bobby Brown

John Davis

Kirk Jones

Tony Bolden

John Trevino

Anthony Phillips

Felix Savala

Ramon Maldonado

Jose Ramirez

Caesar Jeffery

Ray Armstrong

Dario Thomas

Gaylon Robertson

Sharon Hill

Virginia Alexander

Jason Galon

Marcus Pryor

Jeff Garner

Shanda Johnson

Willard Crayton

Annette Moreno

Rocio Herrera

Tom Coleman

Perry Gillespie

Ricardo Guerrero

Tony Dudley

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Busy streets don’t stop our crews from keeping Austin clean.

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

A FRESH TAKE ON WATER CONSERVATION By: KC Munoz

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s we continue to move toward our Zero Waste goal, our Department is developing ideas every day to help promote efficiency and conservation in different areas throughout the city.

Jermain Defreeze, facilities coordinator at KGSC, is making a splash with his latest project for water conservation.

“Right now we’re using drinkable water to wash commercial vehicles, so we’re planning to offset that by using rainwater in the future,” says Jermain.

The truck wash at the KGSC facility currently uses a reclaim system. This means that whatever water trickles off a vehicle drains into a pit, similar to that of a regular car wash. The water is then cleaned through a filtration system and reused to wash the next vehicle.

On average, more than 100 vehicles go through the truck wash every day. The current system uses upwards of 2,500 gallons of water daily.

Between the facility and car wash system, this adds up to more than 1.5 million gallons of water per year at a cost of about $9,000 annually.

The new system will collect rainwater from the KGSC roof and use it to wash the trucks. Austin Water calculated that the Department could collect 650,000 gallons of water in a year’s time.

This number accounts for about half of the water used annually, which would result in significantly cutting down the water utility bill. Although the new system is conserving both water and money, cost is not the number one motivating factor for Jermain.

“It’s not about cost, it’s about conservation,” he said. “If we don’t get rain then our water levels are going to be critically low; that is what is motivating this.”

Jermain is aiming to start construction in October and complete the project early next year.

Austin Water has partnered with ARR to assist with funding the new system. They’re also taking the initiative one step further by helping other departments in the city mirror this conservation effort. Jermain is already making plans to expand the use of the collected rainwater to include water filler trucks and street sweepers.

Looking further into the future, Jermain plans to implement efforts to retrofit HHW to include the ability to use rainwater to flush their toilets.

Overall he hopes to offset the amount of freshwater used throughout the city.

“I realize that as a state we are in a critical stage and this is my contribution to try to help that,” he said. “Water is one of those resources that once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

The truck wash at KGSC is getting a revamp.

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SECOND PHASE OF ORGANICS PILOT BEGINS By: Alexandria Bruton

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t’s all come full circle for resident Lisa Gerber and her family. Last year their home was included in the first phase of the Curbside Organics Collection Pilot. Now, composting is part of their daily routine. Gerber and her two sons also starred in an educational video for the Department about the pilot. The video showcases how, despite their busy days, the Gerber family still finds time to compost. This year ARR added 6,500 households to the pilot and encouraged them to compost as well.

Community outreach efforts began in January 2014 and collection services started in February.

We held neighborhood meetings in each pilot area in order to answer residents’ questions face-to-face. As an incentive for stopping by, attendees received a free food scrap collector for their kitchens. We were happy to see a big increase in the number of people who attended meetings this year. In total, staff presented to over 200 residents.

The Recycle Right Crew added another layer of outreach. The crew surveyed carts in the pilot and provided immediate feedback to residents about how they’re using their organics cart.

Their education efforts will help cut down on contamination.

There are now about 14,000 households receiving curbside collection of food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings in their new green organics cart. In the spring of 2015, we will evaluate the program, including feedback from residents and staff.

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Kevin Roland and Sir Derrick Lott make their way through their organics collection route

Visit austintexas.gov/austincomposts to see how the compost is made and learn more about the program.

Are you in the pilot or know someone who is? Let us know how it’s going by sending comments to daretogozero@austinrecycles.com.

KUDOS

KUDOS From Jennifer Walker, Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter Water Resources Coordinator

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y family and I ran into your Pledge to Recycle team at the Mueller Farmers Market yesterday. I just wanted to tell you that they were very nice and friendly and I think that this is a great program. You all continue to impress me with your programs and outreach. You should come to Environmental Board again one of these days and tell us about all your programs and give us an update on how the bag ban is going.

BTW, we signed up yesterday and I already got a confirmation email less than 24 hours later. That is impressive.

From Jermain Defreeze, Facilities Coordinator

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want to send a kudos and thank you to Sylba Loren for her help at the last four ROAD-E-O’s.

I appreciate her face painting and set-up, her input on agenda items with the green team and her selfless help whenever asked.

From an Onion Creek resident

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lease keep up the good work and thank your driver, James Davenport, for not letting the cans fall down and litter the street. So far we are happy. I will be calling Council Member Morrison to convey my compliments.

ARR featured in the City’s Austin Integrated Management System Newsletter From David McCluggage, finance accounting manager

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xcellent document preparation is possible.

The AIMS Newsletter congratulated departments that had the highest level of accuracy in payment document preparation during the first quarter of FY14. ARR received an honorable mention for a return rate of less than four percent. Last fiscal year our Department had an 11.5 percent return rate in the first quarter.

Congratulations on the 7.5 percent decrease!

Thank you to all who helped prepare and review these payments over the first quarter. Next quarter I would like to aim for the 3 percent benchmark.

Employee Safety Committee Vouchers

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he Employee Safety Committee has been on the lookout for employees who are making safety a priority in their daily routine at work. Whether you work on the front lines or behind the scenes, working safely is important. The following individuals have been recognized “on the spot” for working safely, and awarded a nice coffee mug as a token of appreciation. Flip to the next page to see the list of employees awarded for contributing to our safety culture.

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KUDOS EMPLOYEE

SUPERVISOR

AREA

DIVISION MANAGER

Tom Coleman

Ray Armstrong

Litter Abatement

Vidal Maldonado

Shanda Johnson

Ray Armstrong

Litter Abatement

Vidal Maldonado

Christopher Gonzales

GG. Arnold

Litter Abatement

Vidal Maldonado

Stephen Cannon

Karl Harrison

Litter Abatement

Vidal Maldonado

Charles Mack

Luther Joyner

Collections

Ron Romero

Elpidio Bailon

Luther Joyner

Collections

Ron Romero

Greg Spence

Willie Simmons

Collections

Ron Romero

James Young

JC Moreno

Collections

Ron Romero

Ray Pilgrim

Jermain Defreeze

Operations Support

Richard McHale

Rudy Reyna

Jaime Moreno

Operations Support

Richard McHale

These employees were awarded for their safety contributions between January 1 and February 17.

ZERO WASTE AT THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT PICNIC! The Watershed Protection Department really knocked it out of the park at their recent picnic.

More than 250 people managed to produce less than a pound of trash. That’s roughly the size of a softball! In total, they kept more than 100 pounds of waste out of landfills by recycling and composting as much as possible. Great job!

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BUSINESS OUTREACH

NEW COMMERCIAL RECYCLING REBATE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES By: Marissa Monroy To help small businesses prepare for future recycling and composting requirements, Austin Resource Recovery recently launched a sixmonth Commercial Recycling Rebate pilot. Qualifying small businesses and property managers can earn up to $1,800 in rebates to start or expand recycling and composting programs.

“We understand small businesses in Austin have their own unique challenges for establishing effective recycling and composting programs,” Keith Bible leads the discussion on the Universal Recycling said Austin Resource as part of the Universal Recycling Ordinance.

Recovery Program Manager Aiden Cohen. “This Rebates are available to multifamily properties program offers businesses an opportunity with 5 to 24 dwelling units and commercial to become Zero Waste early adopters by properties and businesses with 10,000 square significantly reducing start-up and collection feet and smaller. Food service establishments, service costs.” office buildings, retailers, hotels, private schools, manufacturing facilities, hospitals and others The Commercial Recycling Rebate aims to may qualify. reward early adopters and incentivize small “Reducing the amount of business-generated businesses that establish recycling and waste going to landfills is crucial for Austin to composting programs prior to becoming reach its Zero Waste goal,” said Cohen. “This affected by the Universal Recycling Ordinance. program aims to help small businesses and By participating in the program, businesses can properties reduce waste and implement effective benefit from direct cost savings by reducing recycling and composting programs.” trash collection service and ensure that the business is prepared for the rollout of the After the pilot wraps, staff will evaluate, analyze, Universal Recycling Ordinance. and provide recommendations for potential By 2017, recycling programs will be required expansion. at nearly all commercial properties in Austin SPRING 2014 | ReNews 15

Have article ideas or suggestions? Send us an e-mail! Topics can include: • • • • • •

Kudos Guest Columns Photo Contributions Employee Profile Nominations Special projects and events in your division Anything else you want your fellow ARR colleagues to know about!

E-mail your ideas to Alexandria.Bruton@austintexas.gov

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