October 25, 2005 - The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) and its City contract area hauler, Republic Waste, have been working 80-90 hours a week to return normalcy to the heavy trash schedule. All other Solid Waste Management Department services are on schedule (automated garbage, curbside recycling, and separate yard trimmings recycling).
SWMD Director Buck Buchanan reports, "Heavy trash collection is about two full days behind schedule, however the department has serviced the last two days of routes that were cancelled by Rita. We expect to have completed all collections by Monday, October 31st. Our contractor is a little further behind schedule than City crews. We plan to assist them so that all trash is collected by October 31st."
Director Buchanan adds, "We sent our recycling crews into all of Houston, even the 4th Thursday and 4th Friday heavy trash day areas that were cancelled due to Hurricane Rita. We collected everything that was bagged or bundled and did not require heavy equipment to collect."
Beginning November 1, 2005 , the Zero Tolerance Program on early placement of heavy trash will resume. Citations ranging from $50-2000 will be issued for heavy trash violations. Heavy trash should be placed adjacent to the front curb in a location easily accessible to the collection vehicle between the hours of 6:00 p.m. the Friday before, and 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Residents may call 311, e-mail 311@cityofhouston.net or log onto www.houstonsolidwaste.org and click on Heavy Trash maps to find out their heavy trash collection day.
After Hurricane Rita, the Solid Waste Management Department opened its Neighborhood Depositories seven days a week to accommodate the extra storm debris from residents. Effective Wednesday, November 2, 2005, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department hours of operation will change to adjust with daylight savings time. The three neighborhood depository locations (listed) will be open 5 days per week Wednesday through Sunday, except holidays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Citizens are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to allow adequate time to unload.
Houston residents may utilize these Solid Waste Management Department neighborhood depository facilities to dispose of their heavy trash:
Each user must provide proof of residency, including a Texas Driver's License or ID, a current utility bill or city property tax receipt. The neighborhood depositories accept furniture, tree limbs, stoves and other large appliances. Appliances containing refrigerant must have a tag attached to them certifying that a qualified technician has removed the refrigerant. Depositories will also accept up to 10 automobile tires per trip per residential unit. A maximum of four cubic yards of building material (not to include roofing shingles, brick, plaster or concrete) will be accepted.
All neighborhood depositories also accept recyclables. Materials accepted include aluminum and tin cans, wood waste, plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2), newspapers and magazines, glass bottles and jars, and used motor oil.
The Solid Waste Management Department directly provides collection services to 304,000 Houston homes and is responsible for the oversight of approximately 85,000 homes serviced by a private hauler, Republic Waste, in the City's contract area.