Austin launches on-demand bulk trash collection to improve accessibility, combat illegal dumping

AUSTIN, Texas - If you live in Austin, you can now schedule the city to come pick up bulk trash items.

What we know:

The new service replaces the twice-a-year, pre-scheduled pick-up system and is part of an effort to improve accessibility and crackdown on illegal dumping. 

The on-demand collection service will be for bulk, brush, and household hazardous waste.

By the numbers:

In District 2, illegal dumping is a big problem.

The city says there have been about 250 complaints about dumping in District 2 alone. Other problem areas tend to be east of I-35.

The on-demand collection service has been going on for three weeks, with 3,000 pick-ups of 22.5 tons of materials.

A truck that pulled into the facility midday on Thursday had made 27 pickups in the morning and went to an additional ten in the afternoon. 

What they're saying:

"Gone are the days of wanting to throw out old furniture or brush, only to find out you have to wait half a year for the city to come pick it up," Mayor Pro-Tem Vanessa Fuentes said.

"We're able to reduce the amount of materials that we send to our landfills," Richard McHale, director of Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), said.

"In my neighborhood, I've seen junk and brush sit on the curb for weeks or even months. I've talked with some of my neighbors who admit they just don't know what else to do with it," resident Laurel Francel said.

Austin residents at the Austin Recycle and Reuse Drop-Off center on Thursday were glad to hear of the new program. 

"I think it's long overdue," Reina Wiatt said.

"Bulk trash is kind of like one of our holidays," Zach Goldman said. "It can be quite hard to kind of plan our lives around because it's only twice a year previously."

What you can do:

You can still bring your items to the Austin Recycle and Reuse Drop-Off center.

You can make appointments on the Austin Recycles app, online, or by calling 311. Be sure to set out your items by 5:30 a.m. on your appointment date. 

ARR says right now, appointments are fairly full but will likely slow down in a couple of weeks. 

For more information, click here.