FIRST PASS OF STORM DEBRIS REMOVAL ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 18th Over 20,000 Truckloads Have Been Removed From City Streets
September 26, 2008 -- The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department has over 800 trucks assigned to Storm Debris Removal throughout the city. With this arsenal, over 20,000 truckloads (804,068 cubic yards) of storm debris have been removed from City of Houston streets up through September 25, 2008. This amount is 16% of the estimated 5 million cubic yards of debris on the ground.
The City expects to finish the “first pass” of storm debris removal from all City streets by October 18, 2008, weather permitting. The first pass consists primarily of vegetative (tree branches, leaves, and shrubbery) storm debris.
“When residents place their materials at the curb in separate piles, the City of Houston can recycle more of the organic material,” said Harry J. Hayes, Solid Waste Management Department Director. “We are currently working with many parties for the beneficial reuse of the tree waste”, Hayes added.
“First pass” means that the City or contractor would have made an initial collection down every street in the City of Houston . “We know that residents still may have tree debris, along with other storm-related items that would need to be collected. Subsequent passes will be provided to collect the additional post-Ike debris,” said Director Hayes.
STORM DEBRIS DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
SWMD has opened its neighborhood depositories 7 days a week to accommodate small amounts of storm debris from Houston residents. One pickup truck load or less will be accepted. Hours of operations will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Locations are:
