How to recycle in Austin, TX

truck on street with recycling carts

An Austin neighborhood with the city’s blue recycling carts | Photo via Austin Recycles, City of Austin service

We’ve all seen the blue recycling carts in neighborhoods around town. It’s like going green, but blue.

City department Austin Resource Recovery’s goal is to reach Zero Waste by 2040, which means reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90 percent.

If you take pride in recycling or are interested in being more environmentally friendly right here in Austin, here’s what you need to know.

The city provides bi-weekly curbside collection of recycling to single-family households + multifamily residences (up to four individual units under one roof). You can also explore the city’s cart sizes and pricing options.

What goes in the blue recycling cart?

  • Paper — junk mail, paper bags, magazine, and newspapers
  • Plastic containers — water and soda bottles, milk jugs, and all-purpose cleaner bottles
  • Hard Plastics — laundry baskets and non-battery kids toys
  • Cardboard — cereal, shoe, and gift boxes
  • Metals — aluminum foil, baking pans, and soda cans
  • Glass — glass jars and bottles

Sorting is not required for items in the recycling cart. Plastic bags are not allowed in the carts. Learn how you can dispose of them properly.

Don’t count yourself out if you live in an apartment or condominium. Take a look at how you can drop off your items at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.

Ready to get more green? Take a look at the city’s full list of collection guidelines.