Parks recycling report in

The report from the newly created Recycling Task Force is in, and the group has concluded that “full implementation of recycling in all Austin Parks and Recreation Facilities will have a meaningful impact on waste diversion, in support of the city’s Zero Waste goal,” according to an Aug. 15 memo. Currently, the city’s parks have about 100 trash and recycling receptacles, with about 800 more needed to fully implement recycling at all parks. That, according to the task force, will require a strategic plan. It will also require funding – $1,515,000 in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget to do it all this year, or $802,500 a year in FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20 to do it in two years, plus $210,000 a year after implementation. Details, including the divide in expenses between the General Fund, funds from the Clean Community Fee, and private donations, can be found in the report, here.