I attended the Zero Waste Block Leader Program orientation hosted by Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), and I left feeling both inspired and reconnected to one of my professional passions: waste and resource management.

As Austin continues working toward its ambitious goal of 90% waste diversion by 2040, this program equips residents to play an active role in that mission. The Zero Waste Block Leader Program (ZWBL) trains volunteers to educate their neighbors about recycling, composting, and waste reduction, while also serving as on-the-ground advocates for sustainability. It’s one of those rare opportunities where everyday citizens become part of the city’s environmental strategy – one conversation, one household, and one block at a time.

From Waste Management to Resource Recovery

During my time at Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) (one of Austin Metro’s largest private waste haulers), I developed a strong appreciation for the complex systems that make waste and sustainability work together. Seeing firsthand how recycling streams, compost operations, and landfill logistics function behind the scenes gave me a tangible understanding of what it takes to manage waste at scale.

But what’s always fascinated me most is the communication side of it: how do we take something as unglamorous as trash and turn it into a story that inspires change? That’s exactly where programs like ARR’s Block Leader initiative come in.