Triangle Ecycling officials announced in October that the business has expanded its free corporate bulk computer pickup services in the Austin metro.

Expanded service areas include Cedar Park, Georgetown, North Austin and Round Rock.

How it works: Per a Triangle Ecycling news release, Austin-area businesses retiring more than 50 laptops or desktops, or several server racks, can utilize the pickup service, which includes a certificate of data destruction and a carbon reduction receipt.

Once scheduled, pickups are usually completed within three days. Refurbished computers are used to train high school students for information technology jobs and support local nonprofits, and non-reusable equipment is recycled by a certified recycling partner with a zero-landfill policy.

By the numbers: Since 2021, the business—which offers pickup services across multiple regions in the United States—has donated 2,500 computers to nonprofits and families in need, and kept 600 tons of e-waste out of landfills.

An in-depth evaluation of Austin's spending on social services is moving forward, which city leaders say could lead to more compliance monitoring and new rules for relationships with contractors.

The details: The city's comprehensive social services "reset" is designed to evaluate current community needs, city spending levels, and whether funding and agreement structures should be adjusted. It comes as Austin will spend over $100 million on homeless response, public health, housing and other areas in the current fiscal year.

Diving deeper: Several city working groups are currently assessing the city's full social service portfolio, community needs, service gaps, public partnerships and the structure and monitoring of city agreements. This project is expected to be completed by late December and will inform the changes anticipated next year, likely including:

• The re-solicitation of many current nonprofit contracts

• Potential recommendations for funding shifts in the city's fiscal year 2027-28 spending plan

• Adjusted city oversight standards, which could include more performance-based contract structures

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression tied to changes in daylight, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Roxanne Dudley, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and licensed professional counselor with Integral Care’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, said fall’s added stress can worsen both anxiety and seasonal depression.

What residents should know: Everyone has bad days, she said.

If symptoms last more than two or three weeks and take up multiple hours of the day, get help, Dudley said. “That’s not just business as usual."

Managing the impact: First is exercise. The usual 20-30 minutes a day can feel impossible with low energy or packed schedules, Dudley said. “I’m a big fan of exercise snacks,” she said. Five or 10 minutes twice a day adds up.

Whatever people try, Dudley recommended self-compassion. “It’s progress, right? Not perfection,” she said.

Reach out: Integral Care is Travis County’s mental health safety net, so cost and insurance should not be barriers to care.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available 24/7 by call or text.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin pushes back on proposed Parmer Lane highway conversion: Austin City Council approved a resolution directing city staff to work with regional transportation agencies to prioritize safety, walking, biking and transit in proposed Parmer Lane improvements amid concerns that a plan to convert the corridor into a multilane highway could increase traffic, noise and pollution.

Kyle reevaluates 6 priority intersections marked for roundabouts: On Aug. 18, the Kyle City Council approved an almost $500,000 reevaluation of 12 intersections where roundabouts were recommended. The results of intersection analyses at six priority locations were presented on Oct. 20. Of the six intersections reevaluated, four were recommended for road remedies other than roundabouts and two were recommended to continue pursuing roundabouts.

Pflugerville's FM 685 median removal to bring overnight lane closures Oct. 26-30: As part of the city’s Downtown East project, a new traffic light is being installed at the intersection, and Main Street is being extended from its current terminus at N. Railroad Avenue.