October 10, 2005 - The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) will resume operation of its Curbside Recycling Program beginning Thursday, October 13, 2005. The Curbside Recycling Program was temporarily suspended after Hurricane Rita to utilize the vehicles and workers to assist with small piles of storm debris that could be collected manually.

SWMD Director Buck Buchanan stated, "Our crews have been working long hours to remove the debris left by Rita. All of our Heavy Trash, Yard Waste and Recycling collection crews have put in 90 - 100 hours a week. The small-sized debris has been loaded by our Yard Waste and Recycling crews and their hard work has gotten us to the point where we can resume our recycling operations." Buchanan added, "We are slightly over a full day behind schedule on our heavy trash operations despite working 7 days out of the week. We thank Houstonians for their patience."

"Please note that we intend to start on Thursday on the Recycling routes that are scheduled for collection on Thursday. We are not able to go back on those routes that were not collected while services were suspended, reported Buchanan."

Houston's curbside recycling program consists of about 160,000 homes. The SWMD Curbside Recycling Program accepts aluminum and tin cans, #1 and #2 plastics, used motor oil, corrugated cardboard, mail, envelopes, home and office paper, telephone books, newspaper and magazines.

For more information, call 311-the City's Customer Service Hotline.