10 Simple Ways to Be More Sustainable on Earth Day (and Every Day) in Central Texas

This year in 2026, Earth Day falls on April 22, but sustainable living doesn’t have to be a once-a-year event. For residents across Central Texas — from San Antonio and San Marcos to Austin, Georgetown, Kyle, and Buda — the tools and opportunities to reduce your environmental footprint are closer than you think, from curbside composting programs to community cleanup events happening right in your neighborhood.

Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) has spent nearly five decades helping Central Texas manage waste responsibly. Our fully integrated facility diverts collected waste from landfills through recycling and composting. That means the choices you make at home and at work have a real, measurable impact when they’re supported by the right infrastructure.

Here are ten practical ways to live more sustainably in Central Texas, starting this Earth Day and carrying through the rest of the year.

1. Learn the 7 R’s of Sustainability

Before diving into specific actions, it helps to have a framework. The 7 R’s are: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle, and Rethink. These R’s provide a hierarchy for making sustainable choices. Refusing single-use items comes first because preventing waste is always better than managing it. Reducing what you buy, reusing what you have, and repairing what breaks all come before recycling.

The “Rot” step refers to composting organic waste rather than sending it to a landfill, where it generates methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. And “Rethink” means stepping back to evaluate your consumption habits and asking whether there’s a more sustainable alternative.

One of our favorites is Reuse. You know when you go to certain grocery stores that make you pay for the recyclable bags to put your items in? Well here’s a handy tip…keep those bags in your car. That way, the next time you go grocery shopping, you can have those reusable (and recyclable) bags on-hand and ready to use instead of having to buy more bags. It’s a win-win!

Start here: Pick one R to focus on this week. Refusing plastic bags at the grocery store or bringing a reusable water bottle to work are small changes that add up.

2. Refuse Single-Use Plastics

Central Texas communities have made real strides in reducing single-use plastic. Many local cafes and restaurants offer discounts when you bring your own cup, and reusable shopping bags have become a standard part of the shopping experience across the region. But there’s still work to do — plastic straws, takeout containers, and disposable utensils remain common.

Carry a simple kit: a reusable water bottle, a coffee mug, a set of utensils, and a shopping bag. These four items eliminate most of the single-use plastic most people encounter in a day. It’s a small habit that prevents a surprising amount of plastic from reaching landfills, or worse…our waterways.

3. Start Composting (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Composting is one of the highest-impact sustainability actions you can take at home. Food scraps and yard waste account for a significant portion of what ends up in landfills, and when organic materials decompose in a landfill without oxygen, they produce methane. Composting diverts that waste and turns it into nutrient-rich soil.

TDS offers composting services for both residential and commercial clients in the Austin area. For homeowners, curbside green waste collection makes composting as simple as putting out another cart. For businesses—especially restaurants and food service operations—TDS provides tailored food waste collection programs that fit your operations and support your sustainability goals.

New to composting? Even apartment residents can participate. Check out our guide to composting in an apartment for practical tips on getting started without a backyard.

4. Recycle Right—Know What Goes Where

Recycling only works when it’s done correctly. Contamination (when non-recyclable items end up in the recycling bin) is one of the biggest challenges in resource management. A single bag of trash in a recycling load can compromise the entire batch.

In Austin, your curbside recycling cart accepts paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and plastic containers marked #1 through #7. Items that do not belong in your recycling cart include plastic bags (a major contaminant), Styrofoam, food-soiled containers, and electronics.

Pro tip: When in doubt, leave it out. Putting a non-recyclable item in the bin does more harm than putting a recyclable item in the trash. Use the TDS Waste Wizard app to check any item before tossing it.

5. Reduce and Reuse Before You Recycle

Recycling gets most of the attention but reducing and reusing are more impactful. Buying in bulk reduces packaging waste. Choosing products with minimal or recyclable packaging prevents waste before it’s created. Repurposing glass jars, donating usable clothing, and repairing broken items all extend the life of materials and keep them out of the waste stream.

At work, the same principles apply. Print double-sided, use digital documents instead of paper when possible, and set up clearly labeled waste and recycling stations in break rooms. Small operational changes across an organization compound into meaningful waste reduction over time.

6. Conserve Water—Central Texas’ Most Precious Resource

Water conservation is critical across Central Texas, where drought conditions can strain supply for communities from San Antonio to Georgetown and everywhere in between. Effective strategies include fixing leaks promptly (a dripping faucet can waste thousands of gallons per year), installing low-flow showerheads and toilets, and using water-efficient appliances.

Outdoors, consider xeriscaping — landscaping with drought-resistant native plants that thrive in Central Texas’s climate without heavy irrigation. Collecting rainwater for garden use is another practical step that reduces demand on municipal water systems. Check with your local utility provider, as many offer rebates and incentives for water-saving upgrades that make these investments more accessible.

7. Upgrade Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Simple energy upgrades reduce both your carbon footprint and your utility bills. Start with the basics: switch to LED lighting, seal air leaks around doors and windows, and set your thermostat a few degrees higher in summer and lower in winter. If you’re ready for a bigger investment, Energy Star-rated appliances and improved insulation deliver long-term savings.

Many local utility providers across Central Texas offer rebate programs for energy-efficient upgrades, including HVAC systems, water heaters, and solar panel installations. Check with your provider to see what incentives are available in your area — these programs can make it significantly easier to invest in your home’s energy performance.

Small but impactful tip: Turn off the lights! I know it seems small – and sometimes easy to forget – but turning off that lamp that usually stays on when you leave the room, or shutting off the light in the hall closet you switch on quickly as you run out of the house can make a huge difference in conserving energy. Plus, it saves you money on your electric bill.

8. Reduce Food Waste

The average American household wastes a significant amount of food each year. Meal planning, proper food storage, and using leftovers creatively are the most effective strategies for cutting food waste at home. Buy what you need, use what you buy, and compost what’s left.

For restaurants and food service businesses, food waste management is both an environmental and economic issue. TDS works with Austin food service operations to set up waste audits and diversion programs that reduce the volume of food waste heading to landfills. Less waste means lower disposal costs and a measurable sustainability story for your business.

9. Get Involved in Earth Day Events and Community Cleanups

Communities across Central Texas host dozens of Earth Day events every April, from neighborhood park cleanups and tree plantings to educational workshops and sustainability expos. These events connect you with neighbors who share your commitment to the environment and provide hands-on opportunities to make an immediate difference.

TDS partners with organizations like the Trail Conservancy and local community groups to support cleanup events and waste diversion education across Central Texas. Participating in a local cleanup isn’t just good for the environment — it builds the kind of community connection that sustains long-term environmental action.

Find local events: Check your city’s sustainability calendar, local Keep America Beautiful affiliates, and the TDS news page for upcoming Earth Day events near you.

10. Support Local Sustainable Businesses

Where you spend your money shapes your community. Choosing to shop at Central Texas farmers’ markets, local zero-waste stores, and businesses that prioritize sustainable practices supports the local economy while reinforcing the market for environmentally responsible products and services.

Look for businesses that minimize packaging, source locally, offer recycling or take-back programs, and communicate their sustainability efforts transparently. When businesses see customer demand for sustainable practices, they invest more in them — creating a cycle that benefits communities across the region.

How Texas Disposal Systems Supports Your Sustainability Journey

TDS isn’t just a waste hauler. We are a resource management company committed to helping Austin move toward its zero-waste goals. Here’s how we support sustainability across the community:

• Curbside Waste, Recycling, and Green Waste Collection: Convenient residential services that make sorting and diverting waste simple.
• Composting Services: Both residential green waste collection and commercial food waste composting programs that transform organic waste into valuable compost.
• 90% Waste Diversion Rate: Our fully integrated facility—the first of its kind permitted in Texas—processes recycling, composting, and disposal all at one location.
• Commercial Waste Solutions: Tailored resource management programs for businesses of every size, including waste audits, recycling programs, and food waste diversion.
• Community Partnerships: We partner with the Trail Conservancy, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, Austin FC, and dozens of community organizations to support sustainability education and environmental stewardship.
• The Waste Wizard App: Our free tool helps residents sort waste correctly, set collection reminders, and stay informed about their curbside service.

Start Your Sustainability Journey with TDS

Call (800) 375-8375 or visit texasdisposal.com to learn about our residential and commercial waste services.

Earth Day Sustainability FAQs

What is Earth Day and when is it celebrated?

Earth Day is an annual global event held on April 22 that promotes environmental awareness and action. Founded in 1970, it now mobilizes over a billion people worldwide. Across Central Texas, Earth Day events typically run throughout the last two weeks of April.

What are the 7 R’s of sustainability?

The 7 R’s are Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot (compost), Recycle, and Rethink. They provide a hierarchy for making sustainable choices, starting with preventing waste and ending with reconsidering your overall consumption habits.

What materials can I recycle in Central Texas?

TDS curbside recycling accepts paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and plastic containers #1–#7. Do not include plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-contaminated containers, or electronics. Use the TDS Waste Wizard app to check specific items.

How do I start composting in Central Texas?

If you have TDS residential service with green waste collection, you can place food scraps and yard waste in your green cart. Apartment residents can use countertop compost bins and drop off at community composting sites. See our apartment composting guide for details.

How can my business reduce waste with TDS?

TDS offers commercial waste audits, customized collection schedules, recycling programs, and food waste composting services. Contact our commercial team at (800) 375-8375 to discuss a waste reduction plan tailored to your business.

Does TDS support zero waste goal in Central Texas?

Yes. TDS actively supports zero waste goals across Central Texas through waste diversion programs, composting operations, recycling education, and community partnerships. Our integrated facility is a key piece of the infrastructure needed to achieve those goals region-wide.

Where can I find Earth Day events in Austin?

Check your city or county sustainability calendar, your local Keep America Beautiful affiliate’s event listings, and the TDS news page for upcoming Earth Day events, cleanups, and workshops across Central Texas.