Major Accomplishments

The oldest independent environmental organization in Texas.

Established Austin's first recycling center on Earth Day in 1970.

Co-founded Austin Community Project a local cooperative federation of businesses in 1974.

Initiated Austin's first workplace recycling program in 1980.

Initiated the publication and distribution of the Austin Environmental Handbook in 1980.

Developed a curbside recycling program in conjunction with the City of Austin in 1982.

Began Texas' first major Landfill Diversion Center program in 1986.

Began Texas' first plastics recycling program in 1989.

Built Texas's highest volume recycling collection center in 1992.

Developed and implemented Texas's first coordinated rural recycling network in 1993.

Hosted the annual Austin Earth Day Festival from 1993-2007

Developed and implemented the first drive-through recycling center in Texas in 1995.

Established numerous rural recycling centers through out Central Texas.

Became one of the first centers in Central Texas to take recycled plastic 1999.

Established itself as a worker-run cooperative in 2000.

Expanded small recycling accessibility to undeserved small businesses 2007.

Processed 10% of the volume in recycling for the City of Austin 2007

Became one of the first recycling centers in the country to accept plastic recycling of #'s (3-7) 2008.

Co-authored the City's Zero Waste Initiative and goals in 2009.

Co-authored the City's Events recycling resolution in 2009.

Staff member appointed to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee 2009.

During 2010 began a composting program for small businesses, events and residents.

Celebrated our 40th anniversary in business and our 10th anniversary as a worker cooperative on earth Day 2010.

Received a Proclamation from the City of Austin for our 40 years of service in 2010.

Co-founded a regional network of worker-run cooperatives in Central Texas 2010

Consulted and co-authored the City's Universal Recycling Ordinance 2010 (which took effect in October 2012)

Initiated the collection of commercial food scraps from restaurants and businesses in addition to recycling 2011.

Acquired former East Austin brownfield landfill in the Montopolis neighborhood and continued remediation and restoration of the soil with commercial compost 2011.

Partnered with Impact Austin, Center for Maximum Potential and Glenn Rose Engineering to establish a master plan for creating educational park and training center called Circle Acres on former brownfield 2012.

Ecology Action is a nonpolitical 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and environmental organization governed by its members.