The City of Austin's New Recycling Plan: Just Do It!
I have been recycling aluminum cans for many years. To be honest, I have recycled these cans for the small return ($$) I get from the recycle place. It's just a little spending money, but it helps.
Over the past few years, though, the better motivation of recycling to reduce landfill and to conserve other resources has come into play in our lives. We have been using the City of Austin's blue tubs to recycle some plastics, newspapers (I still like to read the print edition), and food cans. What is meaningful to us is that as we have added our waste to the blue tubs (we have two), the amount of space left in our garbage bin has increased (except when our family comes to visit!). We are thinking about downsizing our trash bin when we get the new, larger recycle bin from the City. Honestly, it feels good to be part of a program that does help reduce waste in Austin, Texas.
The new, blue recycle carts are to be delivered to residents over the last quarter of 2008. Our mayor says that the City will save money, time and resources, and will allow more "stuff" to be recycled than can be recycled now. (We haven't figured out yet where we will store it while we fill it!)
What can be recycled: newspaper, office paper, junk mail, cereal and soft drink boxes, corrugated cardboard; aluminum food and drink cans; glass bottles and jars; rigid plastics #'s 1-7 and margerine and yogurt tubs.
What can't be recycled: Broken glass, styrofoam (cups, take-out containers, egg cartons, etc.), pizza boxes and plastic bags.
What makes this recycling programs different from the current one, other than the every-other-week pick-up, is that all of the items that can be recycled can be put into the same bin. The message? Just do it! 
Maybe if we all "Go Green" and pitch in the proper items to the new recycle bins, the City will save enough to reduce our taxes. Not likely! At least we will reduce waste and make a positive contribution to our community. What do you think?
Related Link: the City of Austin's Solid Waste Service Department.
If you are in the market for a home in the Austin area or have a home to sell, I would love to assist you. Please give me a call at 512.913.1557, or drop me an email.
Jim Gilbert, REALTOR, Heart of Austin Homes
Licensed (#0536692) to sell Real Estate in the State of Texas
