On this site, you will find information about the wide spectrum of solid waste services we provide and the guidelines pertaining to these services. We also post every neighborhood's schedule on this site, as well as the holiday collection schedule and helpful numbers and links.
The City of Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and is one that is diverse in so many aspects: people, culture, housing and the weather to name a few. Unlike most major cities, the city of Houston does not charge a user fee for residential garbage or other solid waste services. Therefore, wise management of solid waste services in a tight economy is critical. The Department of Solid Waste Management has an annual budget of approximately $77 million dollars that is funded by the City's General Fund with monies generated from property taxes. Thirty-one percent (31%) of the department's budget funds disposal at area landfills. The City of Houston does not have its own landfill.
The Department of Solid Waste Management serves over 340,000 Houston homes with garbage, yard trimmings, and heavy trash collection. We offer every Houstonian the opportunity to recycle through the provision of recycling drop-off sites or through curbside recycling to 162,000 households. We also span a 600 square mile area with dead animal collection on city streets. We offer 4 neighborhood depositories for heavy trash drop-off and recycling.
We encourage everyone to practice the 3Rs (that is to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Before disposing of unwanted goods, check to see if there is a way you can donate the items to charity or to a friend. Also, be sure to take extra precaution when handling common household chemicals. The city of Houston offers a safe and environmentally-friendly manner to dispose of household hazardous waste and electronic scrap at its two Environmental Service Centers (north and south).
Our signature recycling site, the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center, is a drive-through drop-off site which accepts used motor oil and oil filters, used tires, residential computers and other electronic scrap, glass bottles and jars, newspaper, aluminum and tin cans, magazines, corrugated cardboard, batteries, latex paint, plastic containers and anti-freeze. In addition to the eleven recycling drop-off sites we offer around Houston, we have also partnered with Abitibi-Bowater and H.E.B. to provide even more recycling locations at designated H.E.B. supermarkets.
As we look to the future, we must do what is necessary to minimize the waste that is being produced and what is currently going into the area landfills. The department is currently conducting two pilot programs to reduce waste. The first pilot program is testing the effectiveness of biodegradable bags for yard trimmings collection. The other is the Tree Waste Pilot Program. This pilot program is testing the collection of tree waste exclusively on certain months instead of the junk waste that is ordinarily collected. Under the current pilot program, the junk waste is collected every fourth month. The department is excited about advancing this program citywide with the modification that we will be collecting tree waste and junk waste on alternating months. This will help us preserve landfill space, save tax dollars by avoiding landfill tipping fees, and offering reuse for the materials collected.
To remain a viable choice for solid waste service delivery our department chooses to:
1) Explore cost-effective environmental friendly options to conserve natural resources and preserve landfill space,
2) Remain responsive and flexible to meet the needs of its regular customers,
3) Seek continuous improvements to reduce the cost of operations,
4) Forge strategic partnerships with public, private and civic groups in the greater Houston community and
5) Continue to hire, train and promote dedicated workers.
Houston is a beautiful place to reside. We want to leave our children and grandchildren with a safe, clean place to live. We look forward to working with and for you in leaving a "green" legacy.
Sincerely,
Harry J. Hayes
Director