GO GREEN HOUSTON > COMPETITION CRITERIA

This recycling awareness campaign and competition will be conducted with the objective of increasing recycling participation in the curbside recycling program. The data derived from this campaign will enable us to use our limited resources in a manner that is most efficient. Neighborhoods that fail to show improvement and/or score poorly may lose curbside recycling services to neighborhoods that have been on a waiting list for services.

COMPETITION

The objective of the competition is to provide an incentive to raise awareness and participation while fostering community cohesiveness. The competition will be among all subdivisions to determine which have the highest recycling scores, and which have the most improved scores.  Scores will be based on a combination of recycling rate and weight, with each accounting for 50% of the score. Paper and commingled recyclables (aluminum and plastic) will be scored separately.

Categories:

  • The most improved paper recycling area: subdivision with the greatest improvement between the baseline score and the final score
  • The overall highest paper scoring area: neighborhood with the highest score at the conclusion of the competition
  • The most improved commingled area: neighborhood with the greatest improvement in commingled materials between the baseline score and the final score
  • The highest overall commingled area: neighborhood with the highest commingled score at the conclusion of the competition

Criteria:

  1. The area/neighborhood must be at least 100 hundred homes.  Those neighborhoods under 100 homes (in most cases) were added as expansions to existing curbside areas as a means of maximizing routes.  These neighborhoods will be considered as part of an adjacent neighborhood with the same garbage day.
  2. We honor boundary lines based on the maps presented to us when the services were requested-regardless of the official neighborhood/civic club name.
  3. Those areas qualifying are those areas listed on the overall competition list.
  4. No glass will be accepted curbside.
  5. Should a home have more recyclables than can be contained in the green bin, extra materials may be placed in paper bags.
  6. Used motor oil must be placed outside of bin.

Prize:

Winners from each of the 4 categories will receive $5,000 toward neighborhood projects approved by the community and the City. Acceptable projects could include beautifying esplanades or parks, purchasing park equipment, etc. The Mayor's Office, the Solid Waste Management Department, and any other concerned groups such as the Parks Department, would approve projects.m Award will be issued to an officially organized neighborhood group such as a homeowners' association, management group, or civic association.