Austin City Council members Lee Leffingwell and Mike Martinez are drafting an ordinance that requires recycling at the public parties that are part of the Texas capital city’s scene.
A ban on plastic water bottles and Styrofoam and paper items is under consideration as part of the ordinance, as are discounts for use of compostable materials. Those who don’t comply with the ordinance, if it’s enacted, could have their access to city facilities revoked, the Austin Business Journal reports.
“Use of a public venue for an event is a privilege, and there is a certain responsibility that goes with that privilege,” Leffingwell says. “If [event organizers] comply with the [ordinance], they will be able to continue to exercise that privilege. And if they don’t, they won’t.”
The draft ordinance also allows for event organizers to rate how green their events are through such initiatives as using biodegradeable materials and solar-powered lighting.
The business journal calls the draft ordinance one of several Austin initiatives aimed at making the city a leader among sustainable municipalities.
bizjournals: City may ban plastic bottles, Styrofoam at many public events
