Good Morning, Central Austin!

Top Story
Most Austin multifamily properties now offer required compost service; city to ramp up enforcement

A requirement for all apartment buildings in Austin to offer composting collection has been widely adopted, with some reported compliance issues, as the city pushes for more adherence under its "zero waste" goal.

The details: The city's zero-waste policy aims to divert 90% of trash sent to landfills by 2040, in favor of recycling and composting. That goal is a key part of Austin Resource Recovery's waste collection service and comprehensive planning, and was recently expanded with a mandate for all multifamily properties to offer their tenants composting service.

What's happening: As the new standard went into place, Austin also rolled out an educational campaign for apartments and offered zero-waste rebates to affected property owners for implementation. Since first informing properties about the change in summer 2024, the city reports that more than two-thirds of Austin's more than 2,100 multifamily complexes are now compliant with the new composting offerings. With hundreds of properties still not meeting the standard, ARR is now planning to ramp up enforcement.

 
Travis County Coverage
Travis County approves $17.65M for child care, after-school programs

Eighteen months after Travis County voters approved a tax increase to fund expanded child care, the county is cutting checks.

The update: On May 5, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved $17.65 million in contracts with 13 community partners—including United Way for Greater Austin, Pflugerville ISD and Latinitas—to fund after-school and summer programming for more than 5,200 children and business support for 180 child care providers.

The backstory: The vote fulfills a promise made when voters passed Proposition A in November 2024, building on two decades of local advocacy. Since then, the county has funded child care scholarships for 1,000 children, enrolled more than 2,650 students in out-of-school time programs and distributed $2.6 million in gap funding to 150 providers.

What's next: A child care workforce crisis—marked by chronic understaffing, high turnover, and a shortage of qualified applicants—remains a long-term challenge. The county plans to release a full draft plan with projections through 2033 at a virtual town hall June 16.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Kyle Fair

Feel Good Fest

May 15-17
Kyle

May 16, 6-11 p.m.
Austin

More info

More info

 

Color the Sky Kite Day

Lost Pines Art Center Spring Gala

May 17, 1-4 p.m.
Georgetown

May 17, 2-5 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Q&A: Catch up with the Republicans running for Texas railroad commissioner in the May 26 runoff

On May 26, Republican voters will choose their nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff election between former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French and incumbent Jim Wright.

The overview: The Republican railroad commission race is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Wright and French were the two highest-performing candidates in the five-way primary race, with Wright receiving 32.1% of the vote and French collecting 31.7%.

The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face state Rep. John Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the November midterm election. Third-party candidates may also appear on the November ballot.

Did you know? The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. The agency has three commissioners elected to staggered six-year terms.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, with runoff election day May 26.

 

Your local team

Elle Bent
Editor

Krista Box
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

Keep Reading

(512) 989-6808

TERMS OF SERVICE | PRIVACY POLICY

© 2005-2025 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved.