ARR’S Annual ROAD-E-ORoad-E-O operators saddle up for the competition.

WHAT’S IN OUR TRASH?Study shows gaps in recycling.

AIMING HIGHER AWARDSARR employees who go above and beyond.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANETim Hill delivers baby on roadside.

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EMPLOYEES GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

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BOB GEDERTDIRECTOR, AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY

I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER TO SEE MORE THAN HALF OF THIS ISSUE CELEBRATING THE AWESOME THINGS THAT YOU – OUR TALENTED AND HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES – HAVE DONE LATELY: competing locally and statewide, winning industry awards, going above and beyond on a day-to-day basis, and being extraordinary citizens. AND THAT’S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT EACH OF YOU DO EVERY DAY! THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR DEPARTMENT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS GREAT CITY.

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Nearly half of what Austin residents throw away could

have been recycled. Director Bob Gedert talks about what ARR is doing to change that.

Tim Hill was on duty in June when he stopped to help a woman in labor. Later, City Council honored him with a

Distinguished Service Award.

The Solid Waste Association of North America presented ARR’s Business Outreach Team with a

Silver Excellence Award.

Aiming Higher awards are presented to individuals who

shoot for the stars, whether through one exceptional action

or by regularly going above and beyond.

SOIL KITCHENPAGE 14The Brownfield Revitalization program held an event to test residents’ soil to make sure it is fit to grow food.

ARR OPERATORS SHINE AT 20TH ANNUAL ROAD-E-OPAGE 16The 2015 Road-E-O was a fun-filled event for employees and families, with obstacle courses, a barbecue and kid-friendly activities.

PROFILE: RON ROMEROPAGE 20MSW Management – The Journal for Municipal Solid Waste Professionals – ran a story about ARR Division Manager Ron Romero.

MOSQUITOES: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE ANNOYING PAGE 22This edition’s safety article talks about mosquitoes and the health dangers they pose to field employees.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONPAGE 24Many ARR employees have recently been recognized by customers, their peers and ARR leadership.

HR CORNERPAGE 27The Human Resources Department does a lot more than just hiring and discipline; they offer many services to ARR employees.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUBACK COVERShare your feedback about the newsletter, submit your ideas for future issues and think about other ways you’d like to recieve department communication in the future.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANEPAGE 6

Director’s Message:WHAT’S IN OUR TRASH?

PAGE 4

Business Outreach Team Honored for URO OutreacH

PAGE 8

aiming higher awardsPAGE 10

CONTENTS

Published October 2015

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WASTE CHARACTERIZATION STUDY

In June, we released a Waste Characterization study, which analyzed the materials that ARR collects: what’s being thrown away and what’s being recycled. The results were surprising – they showed that more recyclable materials are going to the landfill than are being recycled. At first glance, this seems like bad news. It certainly is discouraging that Austinites are missing so many opportunities to recycle. On the other hand, it shows that our Zero Waste goal is completely achievable!

STUDY RESULTS • 10% of what Austinites are

throwing away is truly trash.• 44% of what’s going in the

trash is recyclable.• 46% of what’s going in the

trash is compostable.

BY BOB GEDERT

Director’s Message

WHAT’S NEXT?

I know that in order to achieve the Zero Waste goal, we need help. Specifically, we need input from our customers. We need to know: What makes recycling challenging? What would make recycling easier? What can we do to make sure that recyclables aren’t thrown in the trash? To answer these questions, ARR’s Strategic Initiatives Division partnered with the City’s Innovation Office to develop a tool for Austinites to share their thoughts about recycling. Staff gathered resident input from July 27 through August 24, using a website, text messaging and in-person surveys. We used all three meth-ods so that we could gather as much information as possible from people all over the City.

Austinites shared a lot of valuable information with us that we might never have known without asking them:

• We learned that many residents have questions about what is recyclable; therefore, they don’t recycle as much as they could.

• A lot of people want to see the City accept more materials for recycling, such as Styrofoam or waxy cartons.

• Many residents recycle so much that they are interested in weekly collection instead of bi-weekly.

• Many people are interested in composting and how we could make that an option for more people around the City.

And that’s just the beginning. We received nearly 1,400 responses from citizens, and staff are still working to analyze all the suggestions! ARR management is using the responses to form “insights,” which are the common threads found throughout the answers. We’ll use those insights to make decisions about improving our services in the months and years to come. Visit insights.austintexas.gov to see the answers we received from participants and the insights that were formed with those an-swers. Soon, the decisions we make as a result of this project will also be posted.

“I’M committed TO USING THE RESULTS OF

THIS STUDY AS A SPRING-BOARD TO improve

AUSTIN’S RECYCLING RATE.”

EACH YEAR

THAT ARE THROWN AWAY

COULD FILL THE

TIMESEACH YEAR

DID YOU KNOW?

What’s in Our Trash?

44% RECYCLABLE

46% COMPOSTABLE

10% OTHER (NOT RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE)

Materials Thrown in Trash

Austin Resource Recovery recently completed a study to find out just that.

The results may be surprising! The report notes that 44 percent of residential trash collected by City of Austin crews and going to the landfill could have been recycled. An additional 46 percent of the waste could have been composted.

Market value of RECYCLABLES going to landfill = about $4.7 million per year. 61,000 tons of COMPOSTABLES are going to the landfill each year.

THAT’S ENOUGH COMPOST TO FILL MORE THAN

FORD F150S

EVERY LITTLE BIT ADDS UP!

More recyclables are going to the landfill than are being recycled in residents’ blue recycling carts.

LANDFILLBLUE BIN

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN RECYCLED?

Once the trash was sorted out and weighed, the study found that paper was the recyclable item that was thrown away most often. Here’s how the numbers add up:

Paper 23 %: Office paper, receipts, junk mail, envelopes, cardboard, boxboard, newsprint, magazines, wrapping paper (non foil), greeting cards.

Plastics 13 %: Bottles, buckets, cups, flower pots, jars, tubs, totes and lids.

Metals 4 %: Soda cans, aluminum baking pans and trays, aluminum foil, steel and tin cans

Glass 4 %: Bottles and jars

• Have questions about recycling? Visit austinrecycles.com and look up more than 200 items on our improved tool: What do I do with…

• Send us your questions! Post them on http://www.facebook.com/austinrecycles or email us at daretogozero@austinrecycles.com.

• Look for a comprehensive RECYCLING guide in your home mailbox this month.

Take Steps to Recycle Every Day, Everything and Everywhere

ARE GOING TO THE

Paper

Plastics

Metals

Glass

Other material

Residuals

Compostables

55,000

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EACH YEAR

THAT ARE THROWN AWAY

COULD FILL THE

TIMESEACH YEAR

DID YOU KNOW?

What’s in Our Trash?

44% RECYCLABLE

46% COMPOSTABLE

10% OTHER (NOT RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE)

Materials Thrown in Trash

Austin Resource Recovery recently completed a study to find out just that.

The results may be surprising! The report notes that 44 percent of residential trash collected by City of Austin crews and going to the landfill could have been recycled. An additional 46 percent of the waste could have been composted.

Market value of RECYCLABLES going to landfill = about $4.7 million per year. 61,000 tons of COMPOSTABLES are going to the landfill each year.

THAT’S ENOUGH COMPOST TO FILL MORE THAN

FORD F150S

EVERY LITTLE BIT ADDS UP!

More recyclables are going to the landfill than are being recycled in residents’ blue recycling carts.

LANDFILLBLUE BIN

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN RECYCLED?

Once the trash was sorted out and weighed, the study found that paper was the recyclable item that was thrown away most often. Here’s how the numbers add up:

Paper 23 %: Office paper, receipts, junk mail, envelopes, cardboard, boxboard, newsprint, magazines, wrapping paper (non foil), greeting cards.

Plastics 13 %: Bottles, buckets, cups, flower pots, jars, tubs, totes and lids.

Metals 4 %: Soda cans, aluminum baking pans and trays, aluminum foil, steel and tin cans

Glass 4 %: Bottles and jars

• Have questions about recycling? Visit austinrecycles.com and look up more than 200 items on our improved tool: What do I do with…

• Send us your questions! Post them on http://www.facebook.com/austinrecycles or email us at daretogozero@austinrecycles.com.

• Look for a comprehensive RECYCLING guide in your home mailbox this month.

Take Steps to Recycle Every Day, Everything and Everywhere

ARE GOING TO THE

Paper

Plastics

Metals

Glass

Other material

Residuals

Compostables

55,000

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Tim was on duty, driving near the landfill on FM 812, when a man flagged him down to help a woman in labor. Tim called EMS, and Communication Medic Jessica McLane helped him through the ordeal. Jessica even coached Tim to use his shoelace to tie off the baby girl’s umbilical cord! He then helped the new mother stay calm to avoid going into shock.

Tim’s duties at ARR include providing safety and first aid training, so he was the right man for the job. “It felt great being able to help someone. I have two daughters of my own, so the feeling was kind of unexplainable,” Tim said. “It was a blessing for the baby to be breathing well and everything.”

Tim’s good deed comes as no surprise; after all, he won an Aiming Higher award earlier this year. “I am proud to call Tim part of the Austin Resource Recovery team,” said ARR Director Bob Gedert. “His ability to stay calm and help a stranger in such a stressful situation demonstrates his commitment to the City’s values to provide exceptional service to the citizens of Austin.”

To recognize his selfless act, the Mayor and City Council presented Tim with a Distinguished Service Award on August 6.

ARR Technical Trainer Tim Hill made the local news when he helped deliver a baby on the side of the road on June 23.

Mayor Adler congratulates Tim Hill on his award. Jessica McLane and Tim Hill reunite for a news interview.

Mayor Steve Adler presents the Distinguished Service Award to Tim Hill, pictured left-to-right with daughters Tamara and Raniesha, wife Yolanda and ARR Director Bob Gedert.

BY MELISSA HEALD, Public Information Specialist

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BY MELISSA HEALD,

PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST

HONORED FOR UNIVERSAL RECYCLING ORDINANCE OUTREACH

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The team was honored at SWANA’s annual conference, WASTECON, for their communications and outreach strategy used to implement the Universal Recycling Ordinance. The award also recognizes ARR’s marketing team for their work on the program.

The Universal Recycling Ordinance requires commercial prop-erties to make sure recycling is available to tenants and employ-ees. By 2017, all businesses and apartments will be required to provide recycling. Meeting the requirements can be challenging for properties and businesses that have little or no experience with recycling, so the Business Outreach Team developed a comprehensive strategy to help affected organizations.

The team assists businesses by providing tools to promote waste reduction, diversion, reuse and recycling. Online resources include videos, bilingual education and signage, on-site consult-ing and web-based reporting systems that allow the business community to implement cost-effective resource-management strategies. Staff members leverage partnerships through site vis-its, presentations, event sponsorship and relationship building to implement effective programs that increase diversion at commer-cial properties in Austin.

Aiden Cohen, Manager of ARR’s Business Outreach Team said, “The SWANA award recognizes the dedicated work of the team to provide outstanding customer service and technical expertise to ensure that Zero Waste initiatives, like the Universal Recycling Ordi-nance, have a positive impact on the Austin business community.”

BUSINESS OUTREACH TEAM MEMBERS

Aiden Cohen, Business Outreach Program Manager Keith Bible, Waste Diversion Planner Sr.Teresa Chapman, Waste Diversion Planner Sr. Tom Gleason, Waste Diversion PlannerRoslyn Kygar, Waste Diversion Planner Sr. Rachel Betts, Waste Diversion PlannerSarah Hoover, Waste Diversion Planner Madelyn Morgan, Waste Diversion Planner

The Business Outreach Team poses with their award. From left-to-right: Sarah Hoover, Teresa Chapman, Roslyn Kygar, Aiden Cohen, Madelyn Morgan, Keith Bible and Tom Gleason.

Ron Romero accepts the Silver Award from Elizabeth Roe, Technical Director of SWANA’s Communication, Education and Marketing Technical Division.

ARR’s Business Outreach Team received a Silver Excellence Award from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) on August 25.

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ROBERT GARCIA

As the Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator, Dana routinely seeks out complex and demanding tasks that are above the requirements of her job. For example, she worked tirelessly on the effort to pro-cure a technology upgrade for the ARR Operations Fleet and she has been a major player in the development of a new Safety Database.

Street Sweeper Operator Rob-ert Garcia received an Aiming Higher Award after he quickly extinguished a sudden vehicle fire. Robert did a great job keeping cool under fire!

AIMING HIGHER

AWARDS Carlos Vallejo and John Trevino

Litter Abatement/Bulk Opera-tors Carlos and John helped an elderly man with dementia get home safely. After finding the man’s home, they called the police and waited for them to arrive so that they could make sure that the man was safe. Carlos and John demonstrated unparalleled compassion and kindness by going out of their way to help a vulnerable citizen.

Iby, a Planner Senior with the Strategic Initiatives Division, goes above and beyond every day to demonstrate PRIDE val-ues. In particular, she demon-strates diversity and inclusion when working at events within different communities. Iby also embodies teamwork and cooperation – she routinely steps in to fill gaps caused by vacancies on the team.

Smith, the Strategic Initiatives Division’s Graphic Designer, has impressed his colleagues with his passion for design and dedication to his job. Beyond that, Smith is recognized for his perpetual willingness to “share his creative intelligence and artistic abilities with those who come seeking his assistance,” despite his high workload.

smith julmisse

AIMING HIGHER AWARDS ARE PRESENTED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO shoot for the stars, WHETHER THROUGH ONE EXCEPTIONAL ACTION OR BY regularly going above and beyond. WINNERS GET A GIFT CARD AND ARE RECOGNIZED HERE IN THE NEWSLETTER. dana blindert

IBY SETZER

COMPILED BY MELISSA HEALD, Public Information Specialist

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Tim is a Technical Trainer who took the initiative to clear train-ing backlogs that began before he worked at ARR. Rather than simply follow the established schedule and allow the situ-ation to continue, Tim added trainings to address the issue. He also initiated an audit of all training records, as well as spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive Safety Training Database. All of these actions demonstrate his dedication to excellence. To add to his accomplishments, Tim recently helped a citizen deliver her baby on the side of the road! Read more on page 6.

TIM HILL

daniel hernandez

Eli Duran, Sir Derrick Lott, Jorge Cervantes, Kevin Roland & Zachary Lopez

Eli, Sir Derrick, Jorge, Kevin and Zachary (pictured left-to-right) came across a tree that had fallen in the street. Since it was Independence Day weekend, the appropriate City department wasn’t available to clear the tree. That’s when the group decided to remove it themselves, even though it wasn’t technically their respon-sibility. At least two observers were impressed by their ac-tions; one sent an email to the crew’s supervisor, and another Tweeted about it online.

Daniel exhibits the PRIDE value of public service and engagement by consistently providing great customer service. He aims higher by following up with customers to ensure they get what they need. Daniel tells customers about cart delivery dates and keeps them informed of changes – he even provides his direct number so he can be reached directly.

Ben consistently works well with his coworkers and always respects everyone. He goes above and beyond by setting goals and diligently working toward them. He frequently improves the morale of his coworkers and has even been instrumental in diffusing some tense situations. His attitude and behavior have earned him the trust of his colleagues, the public and the department.

arturo rojas

Arturo received a second Aim-ing Higher award recently. He is the dead-end driver for three crews and his duties continue to expand as Austin grows. Due to budget constraints, the department hasn’t been able to hire anyone to help him, yet he continues to accept extra du-ties. His attitude and work ethic encourage the entire crew.

ray showels

Since Ray joined his team as a crew leader in late 2014, he has ceaselessly demonstrated PRIDE values. He regularly teaches tactics of public ser-vice and actively encourages his team to share feedback with him in a constructive way. Every day, he goes above and beyond by inspiring his crew to act with a high level of integrity, and his 25 years of experience allow him to demonstrate the value of diversity in the work-place.

ben delgado

During the Memorial Day flood cleanup, Virginia and Ray managed vehicles and em-ployees across all areas of the City, worked service requests and escalated complaints tirelessly. These extra efforts required impeccable customer service and careful coordina-tion with other departments. Despite the extraordinary volume, ARR completed most of the flood-related service

RAY ARMSTRONG and VIRGINIA ALEXANDER

requests in just two months, thanks in large part to Virgin-ia and Ray’s teamwork and dedication.

Jesse Munoz

Jesse is a Technical Trainer who identified a major safety

hazard with the compressed natural gas vehicles. The training that he worked with the Safety Division to develop was such a success that the Austin Fire Department even request-ed a site visit and briefing on the issue.

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Jerry not only performs above and beyond with his customer service and public engage-ment efforts, he also supports and encourages his team in a variety of ways. He invites ideas to help his crew and has elevated his team members through his work ethic. He is a perfect example of a team player, going beyond the call of duty by regularly assisting the yard trimming crews.

Jared exceeds expectations with his exemplary commitment to public service and account-ability. He is always reliable and communicates well with colleagues and supervisors. On a daily basis, he exhibits integrity, goes the extra mile and earns the trust of everyone around him – Jared’s crew members know they can al-ways count on him for ideas to help make their jobs easier.

jerry leyendecker

Jared davee

david guevara

richard Hinojosa

fred causey

David consistently exceeds his normal job expectations. For four months, he didn’t have a crew leader, so he stepped up to provide daily lineups. He has excellent work habits and demonstrates a posi-tive attitude. He has proved himself to be a trustworthy and accountable employee who is dedicated to public service.

Richard heard that some City blowers needed repair and offered his help, despite the fact that doing so is outside the scope of his job. Not only did Richard fix 10 out of 12 broken blowers and save the City hundreds of dollars, he also trained the employees who use the blowers on how to maintain and repair them in the future.

A customer called to report that Fred found her cell phone and went out of his way to make sure it was returned to her. She was particularly grate-

Kenneth has performed extra duties on multiple occasions when his supervisor was out. He has been engaged in addressing customer needs and always behaves in an accountable way. He suggests ideas to his supervisors and is diverse in his approach. He goes above and beyond with his crew, which has no crew leader, in order to accomplish department goals.

kenneth perkins

AIMING HIGHER

AWARDSHOW TO NOMINATEFor more information about Aiming Higher Awards, or to request a nomination form, contact your division Awards and Recognition Committee member:

Litter Abatement Angie Bryant

Collection Services Johnny Williams

Customer Service Marcus Gonzalez

Director’s Office Michael Sullivan

Diversion FacilitiesMelisa Hatherly

Human Resources Amanda Noble

Operations Support Ray Pilgrim

Quality Assurance Bill Garrett

Safety Jesse Langley

Finance Anthony Freeman Strategic InitiativesJo Gutierrez

ful because she uses her cell phone to run her business, so it was vital that she have it.

Operators Arturo and James have raised the bar for perfor-mance in their team. These two display a commendable work ethic and exceptional professional-ism every day, without complaint.

Arturo Rojas and James Davenport

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Arturo Rojas and James Davenport ReNews is seeking photographers to capture people

and events at KGSC, HHW and RRC.

All you need is a camera (or a really good camera phone). Photographers will receive newsletter credit for all published photos. No commitment is necessary – we’ll work with you and your supervisor to make sure participation doesn’t interfere with regular work duties.

CONTACT MELISSA HEALD (MELISSA.HEALD@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV OR 512-974-9216) FOR DETAILS.

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BY CHRISTINE WHITNEY, Brownfields Program Manager, and SUSANNE HARM, Public Information Specialist Senior

ARR’s Brownfields Revitalization program kicked off gardening season with the Soil Kitchen, which took place during the Fusebox Festival April 10-12.

More than 500 residents from all over Austin turned out to drop off their soil samples. Two free tests were offered to give garden-ers a picture of the health and safety of their soil.

It is important to test your soil before planting food crops. Under-standing what’s in the soil provides gardeners with the knowl-edge to grow healthy food. The Brownfields team focused on screening for harmful metals, such as lead and arsenic, and they also tested the soil’s nutrients. This allowed residents to learn about the quality of their soil and make adjustments before the planting season.

TEST RESULTS None of the garden samples tested by the Soil Kitchen showed significant levels of harmful metals such as lead or arsenic; how-ever, some soils were missing crucial nutrients, such as manga-nese and nitrates.

TIPS If your soil is missing key nutrients, you can add soil amendments that increase the nutrient levels. For manganese deficiency, a foliar spray used directly on the leaves also helps. If you discover that your soil has high levels of harmful metals, there are several things you can do to reduce risk:

• Maintain a neutral pH (above 6.5).• Add soil, compost or mulch regularly.• Wear gloves while gardening.• Wash all produce before eating.• Don’t eat while gardening.• Build a raised garden bed to reduce contact with the con-

taminated soil.• Keep young children from playing in the soil and putting

soiled hands or toys in their mouths.

THANKS The Brownfields program would like to give special thanks to all the employees of ARR who supported the event, including Emlea Chanslor, Tiffany Lieu, Smith Julmisse, Scott Johnson, Aaron Jaramillo, Kristina Newman, Michele Bondy and Melisa Hatherly. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Representatives from the TCEQ, EPA and ARR at the Soil Kitchen.

Michele Bondy logs soil samples.

Christine Whitney collects a citizen’s soil sample.

A father and son submit their soil for testing.

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BY MELISSA HEALD, Public Information Specialist

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April 25th was a great opportunity for ARR staff to show off their skills behind the wheel. Families, friends and co-workers watched

as operators maneuvered 40,000-pound trucks through obstacle courses and used massive cranes to move Coke cans – all while racing against the clock. The event also featured family activities, such as face-painting for the kids and a barbecue.

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ROAD-E-O CHAMPIONS

This year’s “Top Gun,” or the person with the highest score over-all, is Kevin Spencer! The Top Gun wins a $100 prize. Congratu-lations to all the winners!

Mike Carnline, Chris Guerrero, Virginia Alexander, Kevin Spencer, Louis Rodriguez, Aaron Green, Bobby Brown and Dario Thomas went on to compete at the state-level TxSWANA Road-E-O in Houston on June 27, 2015.

ZERO WASTE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

We’re proud to say that in support of the City’s Zero Waste goal, and under the guidance of ARR’s Green Team, attendees recycled or composted nearly 98% of the waste at the Road-E-O, sending a mere 3.2 pounds of trash to the landfill. This signifi-cantly exceeds the 95% City goal. Way to lead by example, y’all!

ARR employees and their families enjoy arts and crafts, camaraderie and good-natured competition.

A crowd gathers to watch the events.

Thirty-six challengers “saddled up” and gave it their all in this year’s competition. All categories were judged on accuracy and time.

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

VEHICLE: REAR LOADER

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

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1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

ROaD-E-O WINNERS

VEHICLE: REAR LOADER

VEHICLE: AUTOMATED

VEHICLE: TRACTOR

CHRIS GUERRERO

VIRGINIA ALEXANDER

JAMES HOWARD

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

VEHICLE: ROLL OFF

1st Place

2nd Place

AARON GREEN

BEN DELGADO

BOBBY BROWN

KEVIN SPENCER

MIKE CARNLINE

CHRIS FARR

LOUIS RODRIGUEZ

CHRIS CALABRESE

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

VEHICLE: CRANE1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

JOHN CHILDERS

DARIO THOMAS

ISMAEL BRYAN

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Ron Romero loves Austin, TX, and the job he has with Austin Resource Recovery at the City of Austin. As the Division Manager over Curbside Collection Services, Romero gets to see firsthand the garbage and recycling habits of Austin residents. Austin has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years, and keeping up with the collection needs of Austin residents can be somewhat challenging. He manages 150 well-trained and experienced employees and a fleet of more than 120 pieces of equipment. His team collects about 130,000 tons of garbage and 54,000 tons of recycling each year from about 190,000 customers.

Romero’s division is a big part of the City of Austin’s Zero Waste initiative to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90% by the year 2040. Zero waste is a philosophy that focuses first on reducing trash and reusing products and then recycling and composting the rest. Zero waste recognizes that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and everything is a resource for something or someone else. Austin Resource Recovery is committed to achieving zero waste by providing excellent cus-tomer services that promote waste reduction, increase resource recovery, and support the City of Austin’s sustainability efforts. Austin wants to be the national zero waste leader in the transfor-mation from traditional integrated waste collection to sustainable resource recovery.

WHAT HE DOES DAY TO DAY

Romero’s day can be unpredictable; no day is ever the same. Managing the day-to-day operation of both garbage and recy-cling collection can be quite hectic. Personnel challenges, equip-ment challenges, and the occasional weather challenge could possibly complicate a well-planned out day. Meetings with staff, City officials, and Austin Resource Recovery customers could constitute a typical morning, while the afternoon schedule may be filled with process improvement planning, and operational and program review. Being responsible for a division that is constantly changing requires him to wear many hats. A strong support team of assistant managers and supervisors help alleviate a lot of the smaller tasks, giving Romero the time to work with other depart-ment division managers and the Executive Team to address the larger issues and focus on future planning.

WHAT LED HIM TO THIS LINE OF WORK

Romero’s career with the City of Austin and Austin Resource Re-covery spans more than 20 years. While taking an environmental class at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University) he started to understand the impact of pollution on the environment.

He began to research and observe various issues that were fac-ing Texas and Austin in particular. The environmental seed was planted and has grown ever since. He applied and was hired by the Environmental Conservation Services Department with the City of Austin. Romero started as an administrative assistant in the ’90s and has been promoted to various positions over the years. The original department has now evolved and changed its name to Austin Resource Recovery. For 20 years, he’s been involved in the operation, budgeting, planning, and management of various aspects of solid waste management with the City of Austin. “This journey is exciting and always changing.”

WHAT HE LIKES BEST

There are so many things Romero likes about his job. The “un-predictable” factor keeps him on his toes. Meeting directly with customers and being able to address their concerns and issues is important to him. Romero really enjoys staying connected to customers. Reviewing garbage and recycling statistics gives him ideas of where the department’s focus should be and what possible program improvements or enhancements can be made. He feels that his division is the nucleus of the department. Having a hand in the push to increase the diversion rate in Austin and playing a large part in Austin’s Zero Waste Plan is exciting to him.“Our Department wants to make Austin, Texas, the greenest city in the United States,” he says, “and I get to play a major role in that goal. Wow!”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Romero says the biggest challenge for Austin and its residents is embracing the new zero waste philosophy. This requires some different thinking on the customer’s part and realizing that their habits can positively or negatively affect our future. It’s the City’s responsibility to educate them.

MSW Management – The Journal for Municipal Solid Waste Professionals – ran a story about ARR’s Ron Romero in their July/August issue. The article is reprinted with permission.

BY CAROL BRZOZOWSKI

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ROMERO SAYS THE biggest challenge FOR AUSTIN AND ITS RESIDENTS IS embracing THE NEW ZERO WASTE PHILOSOPHY.

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BY JOHN HOLLENBECK, Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator

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DANGERS OF MOSQUITO BITES

Mosquito bites can be more than just itchy and annoying. Depending on the region of the world you may find yourself, mosqui-toes carry a wide range of diseases and illnesses such as West Nile Virus, Malaria, Dengue Fever, Eastern Equine Encepha-litis and Yellow Fever. In 2012, the Texas Department of State Health Services con-firmed 17 deaths from the West Nile Virus statewide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, most people (70 to 80 percent) who become infected with West Nile Virus do not develop any symptoms. About one in five people will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most will recover quickly, but fatigue and weakness can last for several weeks. Less than one percent of those infected will develop a severe illness resulting in a neurological disorder such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues). The symptoms of neurological illness can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures or paralysis.

REDUCING YOUR RISK

There are steps that you can take to reduce your chances of becoming ill or suffering with itchy bites. First, try to avoid mosquitoes. Mosquitoes tend to bite between dusk and dawn. Limit your time outside during this period. Second, wear light-colored clothing when you are outdoors and apply insect repellent on exposed skin.

In the past, the pesticide DEET has not been recommended for personal use to prevent insect bites. The most serious concerns about DEET are its effects on the central nervous system. However, some recent studies show DEET to be safe for personal use. Before using products con-taining DEET, make an educated decision.

If you want to avoid DEET, look for repellents that contain picaridin instead, such as Cutter Advanced. Another good option is a product that contains at least 26 percent lemon eucalyptus oil, such as Repel. One of my personal favorites, which worked well for me while I was in Iraq, is Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535. IR3535 has been shown to be as effective as DEET.

To prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your house, you should limit standing water such as puddles and water in flower pots or kiddie pools. Lastly, if you aren’t able to apply any of the above recommendations, cover up by wearing long-sleeve shirts, long pants and socks while outdoors.

WORKING IN THE FIELD

If you are working in the field and encoun-ter annoying insects, apply bug repellent to your exposed skin and consider spray-ing it on your clothing, too. Be sure not to make contact with your eyes, nose or mouth. Bug repellent can be found in the KGSC store.

Mosquitoes are great for the food chain, annoying to most of us, and they can sometimes even be dangerous. If you apply the information presented in this article, you will greatly reduce your risk of itchy and annoying bites, as well as poten-tially serious illnesses.

REFERENCES

Brady J, Costantini C, Sagnon N, Gibson G, Coluzzi M (1997) The role of body odours in the relative attractiveness of different men to malarial vectors in Burkina Faso. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 91: 121–122.

Background information for this article came from the following sources: The Center for Disease Control, Prevention Magazine Online, About.com and the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia.

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ZACHRY ENRIQUEZ AND HUNTER PREVOST

A resident emailed a com-pliment about Matthew and Jose after they completed bulk collection in his neighborhood. He said that they are two of the “best, nicest and most professional people employed by the City of Austin” that he’s ever met.

HERMAN DIETRICH AND ROCIO HERRERA

GERALD WATSON AND STEVEN DAVIS

COMPILED BY MELISSA HEALD, Public Information Specialist

A happy customer, Craig Kuczynski, pictured with his sons Ryan and Aiden, sent a thank-you email after operators Zachry Enriquez and Hunter Prevost stopped to take a pho-to. The children were thrilled – they are big fans of trucks and heavy machinery.

MATTHEW FLORES AND JOSE RAMIREZ

Herman and Rocio received a compliment from a citizen for their work picking up yard trimmings.

A citizen was pleased with the service he received on his street when Gerald and Steven showed up with shovels to clear away all the rocks on the street.

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A CUSTOMER EMAILED SOME WORDS OF appreciation FOR THE OPERATORS WHO WORK HIS ROUTE AND ALWAYS HONK THE HORN AND WAVE TO HIS SON. JUST A small gesture MAKES THE BOY’S DAY!

JESSE MORALES AND CREW

Patrick Clark and Ron Romero thanked Jesse

and his litter control team (pictured above) for the

excellent job they did cleaning up the KGSC

yard after the spring storms.

TOM GLEASON STEVEN DAVIS AND TONY DUDLEY

ISMAEL FIGUEROA AND TERRANCE CARR

GIS TEAM

Bulk collection crew members Ismael and Terrance collected a couch from a resident’s home and found a car key in the cushions. They put the key, along with a note, in the resident’s mailbox.The resi-dent was so pleased that he called 3-1-1 to express his gratitude.

Jessica King appreciates the tremen-dous, ongoing support the GIS Team provides the Strategic Initiatives Division. The team has been patiently research-ing and scrubbing address data to help SI develop a reliable web app for our customers. Plus, their analysis of resi-dential recycling rates will be essential to the upcoming District Challenge.

Ginger Enger thanked Tom for his efforts at this year’s Road-E-O. Ginger appreciated Tom’s Green Team work at the event, as well as help setting things up. Ginger said, “I am proud to call Tom a coworker and appreciate his positive and willing attitude to get the job done right.”

Teresa Chapman appreciated the help that Steven and Tony provided at the Juneteenth event, including setup and hauling materials. Teresa reported that Steven demonstrated admirable team spirit when she thanked him, replying “hey, we are all a team.”

Pictured from left-to-right: Jesse Morales, Christopher Simpson, Louis Rodriguez, Jeffrey Garner, Rocio Herrera, Derrick Steward, Ricardo Guerrero, Anthony Phillips, Jose Salas, Shiron Hill and Kane Deleon (not pictured: Greg Jones and John Davis)

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EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION (CONTINUED)

Mayor Steve Adler and City Manager Marc Ott awarded Vidal Maldonado a Certificate of Appreciation for outstand-ing public service. Vidal was a long-time Litter Abatement Division Manager and continues to work for the City on special projects part-time.

Deputy Director Sam Angoori (left) received a Certificate of Appreciation for his role as Executive Champion for the CARE combined charities program, and Safety Division Manager Jeff Dilbert (right) received one for his role as Department Coordina-tor. The CARE program is the annual workplace giving pledge and one-time gift drive for City employees.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION CARE Program

Director Bob Gedert (left) and Deputy Director Sam Angoori (right) with Vidal Maldonado (center)

Sam Angoori (left) and Jeff Dilbert (right)

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: FINANCE

ARR’s Finance Team has evolved immensely over the last two years: 65% of the employees are newly hired due to retirements and staff promotions. While many teams would struggle to perform well under the strain of so much change, the Finance Team has achieved some amazing accomplishments.

For example, the accounts payable section has decreased their error rate from 11 percent in fiscal year ’13 to only 1.5 percent as of March 2015. That’s an 86 percent decrease! The billing group has also performed well these past couple of years: in fiscal year ’13, they were expected to resolve all billing inquiries within 25 days. Today, their average is a mere 5 days!

Finance team (shown left to right): Elizabeth Corey, Victoria Sanchez, Tom Fulmer, Marcia Jones, CJ Sisco, Taylor Youngblood, Tony Freeman, Vekessa Malveaux, Terri Jeffries, Robert Anderson, Skylar Smith, Brent Paige. Not shown: Adam Arriaga, Daniel Hernandez, David McCluggage, Jonathan Mays and Jessica Frazier.

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CONFLICT MEDIATION

If you are experiencing conflict with a coworker or you aren’t sure how to discuss an issue with management, HR’s trained media-tors can provide confidential guidance.

TRAINING PROGRAMS

HR and the City’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partner to provide training on a variety of topics, from budgeting to family matters. Check the monthly HR Training email or visit the TRAIN website for a list of opportunities. To visit TRAIN, go to cityspace.ci.austin.tx.us and click TRAIN (which is on the right side of the page under LINKS).

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

If you have been employed with the City for at least one year, you might be eligible for six weeks of paid leave for the birth or adop-tion of a child, or for the placement of a foster child in your home. Contact HR to find out what benefits you qualify for.

CAREER GUIDANCE

Do you feel stuck in your career? The employment team can provide confidential guidance by comparing your interests, back-ground, training and education to City of Austin job descriptions. We can help you develop a plan to advance your career by de-termining the necessary qualifications and steps to obtain them.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT does a lot more THAN JUST HIRING AND DISCIPLINE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE services we provide TO ARR EMPLOYEES.

THESE ARE JUST A few of the many SERVICES WE PROVIDE. STOP BY THE ARR HR OFFICE AT ANY TIME AND get to know our staff.

BY BLANCHE QUARTERMAN, Human Resources Manager

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WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

Soon, we’ll be asking you what you want to know and how you want to hear it. There will be several opportunities to share your thoughts, so start thinking now. We need your input to create a solid plan! We also want your feedback about this issue of Re-News and your ideas for future editions.

Email Melissa Heald at melissa.heald@austintexas.gov with any of the following:

• Guest columns• Photos• Employee profiles and recognition• Special projects• Events• Suggestions for improvement

What would

you

like to see in ReNews?

RENEWS TEAM

Melissa Heald – EditorDana Johnson – Graphic Designer and PhotographerSmith Julmisse – Graphic DesignerTiffany Lieu – PhotographerSusanne Harm – Photographer

FOLLOW US

ARR’s marketing team is creating an internal communication plan to improve the way information is shared in our department.

Be sure to follow Austin Resource Recovery on facebook at facebook.com/austinrecycles.

You can also sign up for ARR’s e-newsletter and read our blog at austinrecycles.com.