Establishment or revision of legal measures, including bans or restriction on specific categories of plastic packaging and/or products considered problematic or unnecessary: Austin previously implemented an ordinance that prohibited businesses from distributing single use bags, which reduced plastic bag litter by 75%. After the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a similar bag ban in Laredo, Texas violated state law, Austin lost its ability to enforce the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance. However, Austin has publicly commitment implementing a social media campaigns to encourage residents to continue their practice of bringing their own bags. Austin also operates a Zero
Delivery of awareness raising and education campaigns: The City of Austin provides year round education to the public thru traditional media such as radio, television, print ads, and billboards. Outreach is also conducted thru social media. Residential outreach is support by the Zero Waste Block Leader Program https://www.austintexas.gov/zwbl and Businesses are support by a Business Outreach Team of City staff https://austintexas.gov/uro
Encouragement of voluntary actions: The City of Austin provides a “Zero Waste Business Rebate” program to businesses encourage the reduction of plastic products. The program continues to provide a rebate to qualifying businesses for the following expenses: replacing plastic straws with BPI-certified compostable or reusable straws; replacing expanded polystyrene foam to-go containers and cups with BPI-certified compostable containers; and replacing single-use plastic bags with paper or reusable bags. URL: https://austintexas.gov/de
