May 21, 2008 - The City of Houston 's Solid Waste Management Department has signed a contract with a Dallas-based company to dispose of its green waste.
Under the terms of the contract, Living Earth Technology Co. will receive and process the city's tree limbs, stumps and yard trimmings into mulch and compost.
Already the largest commercial manufacturer and provider of landscaping materials in Texas , Living Earth has 15 locations in Houston , Dallas-Fort Worth and Pineland.
Company President Mark Rose said his company has been working with the city since 2007 to initiate such a program, which is an outgrowth of 16 years of similar, smaller partnerships, like annual Christmas Tree recycling initiatives.
"Green material is a large portion of the municipal waste stream in Houston ," Rose said. "More and more people understand that recycling this material makes good environmental and economical sense."
The city is expected to save landfill space, greenhouse gas emissions and money by diverting and recycling tree trimmings and brush.
The six-month pilot program -- to which Living Earth donated the disposal costs -- saved $131,200 in tax dollars, according to Solid Waste Management Department Director Harry Hayes.
Houston Mayor Bill White, a staunch green advocate, is also fully on board.
"We will begin a Tree Waste Recycling Program citywide, which will help us divert at least 20 percent from area landfills," he said. "This is one of the green efforts we will pursue to ensure we leave our children and grandchildren a clean, healthy place to live."
