Austin and Travis County property owners and community managers: you’re operating in one of the most ambitious Zero Waste markets in the country. National Doorstep’s valet trash, recycling, and organics service is designed to align with the City of Austin’s Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) under City Code Chapter 15-6, Article 5 (Universal Recycling) while supporting Travis County’s waste-reduction goals and interlocal Zero Waste agreements.
In the City of Austin, multifamily communities with 5 or more dwelling units are now subject to phased-in mandatory recycling and organics diversion requirements that include service capacity, co-located containers, annual diversion planning, and resident education. Outside the city limits, unincorporated Travis County does not currently impose a stand-alone apartment recycling mandate, but multifamily properties are still subject to county nuisance and litter rules, internal waste-management policies, and Zero Waste coordination through interlocal agreements.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Amenity-driven doorstep collection for trash, recycling, and organics that can support rent premiums, renewals, and stronger underwriting in a compliance-heavy market.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep service keeps enclosures, corrals, and compactor areas cleaner and reduces overflow that can trigger URO complaints or county nuisance citations.
- Compliance Simplified: Built around Chapter 15-6, Article 5 (Universal Recycling), the City’s URO administrative rules, and Travis County nuisance / waste-management policies—without adding onsite headcount.
- Code-Backed Design: Inspector-friendly container layouts, color-correct labels, and multi-language resident education that support plan approval, field inspections, and Zero Waste reporting.
At a Glance: City of Austin vs Unincorporated Travis County
City of Austin
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling and organics diversion under the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO), codified in City Code Chapter 15-6, Article 5 – Universal Recycling with detailed rules in the Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules.
- Applicability Threshold: URO applies to multifamily properties with 5+ dwelling units, as phased in under Article 5 and the URO rules (75+, 50+, 25+, 10+, and now 5+ units).
- Duties: Provide on-site recycling and, when applicable, organics collection for residents; meet minimum capacity per dwelling; co-locate recycling/organics within a short walk of trash; submit an Annual Diversion Plan; and deliver regular resident education in at least two languages.
- Program Notes: Requirements and plan forms are maintained by Austin Resource Recovery through the URO program pages and administrative rules.
- Key City Links: City Code Ch. 15-6, Art. 5 – Universal Recycling · Chapter 15-6 Administrative Rules (PDF) · Universal Recycling Ordinance (Program Page) · Multifamily URO Requirements
Travis County (Unincorporated)
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate comparable to Austin’s URO. County regulations focus on public nuisances, junked vehicles, litter, and siting/operation of solid-waste facilities, plus internal waste-management and recycling policies.
- Applicability Threshold: County nuisance and waste rules apply broadly; there is currently no county ordinance that specifically requires multifamily properties to provide on-site recycling or organics service for residents.
- Program Duties: Keep premises free of litter and solid-waste accumulations; use permitted haulers and facilities; follow Travis County environmental and nuisance standards; and leverage regional drop-off and household hazardous waste programs where available.
- Zero Waste & Interlocal Notes: Through a Zero Waste interlocal agreement, the County coordinates with the City of Austin to implement diversion programs at county facilities and share certain costs and services.
- Key County Links: Travis County Code Ch. 261 – Nuisances, Junked Vehicles & Litter · Travis County Ch. 311 – Waste Management Policy · City–County Zero Waste Interlocal (PDF) · Travis County Recycling & Disposal
Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Austin – URO Violations: Under City Code Chapter 15-6 (Universal Recycling), violations are treated as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines of up to $2,000 per day, per offense. Enforcement typically starts with education and technical assistance but can escalate to citations if a property fails to correct non-compliance.
- Austin – Solid Waste & Nuisance Issues: Improper container management (overflow, leakage, obstructions), failure to maintain service, or repeated plan non-submittal can lead to administrative enforcement, citations, and per-day fines in addition to any contract charges from haulers.
- Travis County – Nuisance & Litter Enforcement: Under Travis County Code Chapter 261, accumulations of solid waste, illegal dumping, or inoperable vehicles can be treated as public nuisances. County enforcement may involve notices, orders to abate, citations, and monetary penalties, plus recovery of cleanup costs.
- Travis County – Waste Management & Facility Rules: County waste-management and siting policies require that solid waste be handled through approved facilities and in compliance with state law. Loads that violate facility rules or state requirements can incur extra charges, refusal of loads, or enforcement referrals.
- Tip: Maintain a clear paper trail—service agreements, tonnage reports, diversion plans, inspection photos, and resident notices—so you can demonstrate good-faith compliance if a URO inspection or county nuisance complaint arises.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (Austin & Travis County)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Authoritative Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Inside/Outside City Limits | Verify whether your community is inside Austin city limits (subject to Chapter 15-6, Article 5 – Universal Recycling) or in unincorporated Travis County (subject to county nuisance and waste-facility rules, but without a dedicated multifamily recycling mandate). This determines which mandates, fines, and plan deadlines apply. | Austin URO Code Text · Austin Code of Ordinances · Travis County Code – Title 2 |
| ☑ Subscribe to Required Services | In the City of Austin, ensure that your property has active service for trash, single-stream recycling, and required organics collection with enough capacity for all residents, as defined in URO rules. In unincorporated Travis County, set up appropriate trash service and decide whether to add on-site recycling and organics through private haulers to align with county and regional Zero Waste goals. | Universal Recycling Ordinance Program · Multifamily URO Requirements · Travis Recycling & Disposal |
| ☑ Container Layout, Capacity & Contamination Control | Design enclosures and service areas so that trash, recycling, and organics containers are co-located and easy for residents to use. Meet or exceed the minimum gallons of recycling and organics capacity per dwelling per week required by the URO, and monitor contamination to avoid extra hauler fees and enforcement actions. | Chapter 15-6 Admin Rules (PDF) · URO Overview · Travis Drop-Off Tool |
| ☑ Resident Education & Signage | Provide clear, multi-language instructions at move-in and at least annually on how residents should use doorstep collection, what belongs in each container, and how to schedule bulky items. Use signage at enclosures, lobbies, mail centers, and digital channels to reinforce expectations and document your outreach for URO compliance. | Multifamily URO Resources · URO Education & Technical Assistance · Travis Co. Ch. 261 (Litter/Nuisance) |
| ☑ Annual Diversion Plan & Documentation | For Austin properties, complete and submit the required Annual Diversion Plan during the City’s filing window, and keep copies of submissions, hauler reports, diversion metrics, contamination tags, and photos. For county properties, maintain documentation of good-faith efforts to prevent litter and illegal dumping, plus any voluntary recycling and organics programs you implement. | URO Plan Submission Portal · Austin–Travis Zero Waste Interlocal |
Need a fast URO compliance check? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Austin or Travis County property — we’ll benchmark your property against Chapter 15-6, Article 5, right-size trash, recycling, and organics capacity, and prepare resident-facing communications and documentation tailored to your community.
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