April 21, 2004 - April 22nd is designated as Earth Day. The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department would like to remind Houstonians that Earth Day should not be just a one-day remembrance. The City of Houston offers recycling opportunities to every resident in Houston on a consistent basis.
"Let's make a practice of thinking AND acting environmentally every day," says Edward Chen, Deputy Director of Recycling and Environmental Services Division. Chen adds, "Our department offer Houstonians a wide spectrum of opportunities to recycle.We challenge residents to take advantage of these opportunities to be earth-friendly."
Every household that is serviced by the Solid Waste Management Department for garbage collection receives a separate environmental pickup of yard trimmings (leaves, grass, small branches) every week.Approximately one-half of the residents (152,000 homes) have chosen to participate in the City's curbside recycling program.
Every Houston resident also has the opportunity to recycle a wide variety of items at the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center, 5900 Westpark.Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., this center is a FREE convenient drive-thru, drop-off facility for:
#1 and #2 plastic containers
Aerosol cans (empty)
Aluminum and tin cans
BOPA (car Batteries, used motor Oil, latex Paint, and Anti-freeze)
Christmas tree (December 26th to early January only)
Corrugated cardboard
E-Scrap (computers, vcrs, monitors, faxes, and other small electronics)
Glass bottles and jars
Magazines
Newspapers
Office paper
Telephone books
Tires (no more than 10 tires)
Many Houstonians have common household chemicals that they need to properly dispose of or recycle.The Solid Waste Management Department offers two Environmental Service Centers (ESC) for such household hazardous waste and/or electronic scrap items (at no charge with proof of Houston residency).The North ESC, 5614 Neches, Building C, is open the 2nd Thursday of the month from 9am-3pm.The South ESC, 11500 South Post Oak, is open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am-3pm and the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9am-1pm.For more information, call 713-551-7355.
The three Solid Waste Management Department Neighborhood Depositories for heavy trash also accept recyclables.Citizens may use these facilities at no cost by bringing a current utility bill and a Texas Driver's License or I.D.The locations are 5565 Kirkpatrick (NE), 9200 Lawndale (SE), and 5100 Sunbeam (S) and are open Wednesday through Sunday, except holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m..
The Solid Waste Management Department provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.
For more recycling information, please call 311 or log onto the Solid Waste Management Department web page at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.
