September 27, 2005 - The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has resumed all solid waste services, except curbside recycling. Garbage collection will be provided to residents on their normal day of collection. Normal heavy trash schedules will resume Tuesday, September 27, 2005.

Storm debris will be collected on the resident's normal heavy trash collection day or earlier, if possible. SWMD is requesting that residents place their storm debris at the curb. SWMD Director Buck Buchanan stated, "We are strongly urging residents to bag or bundle leaves, small limbs, twigs or anything that doesn't require heavy equipment to handle. This will allow us to provide quicker, more efficient services to everyone."

Due to the storm, citations will not be issued for the placement of storm debris at the curb until the end of October. However, heavy trash, such as furniture and large appliances, should not be placed on the curb prior to 6pm the Friday before your regular heavy trash day. Citations will be issued for violations for early/late placement of heavy trash.

According to Chapter 39 of the City's Code of Ordinances, residents who hire contractors to perform work on their property must have the contractors remove all debris that may arise from their work. Do not have contractors place materials at the curb for the City to collect!!! Houstonians (not businesses) who would like to dispose of their heavy trash or storm debris on their own, may utilize one of the City's neighborhood depositories. Until the end of October, the facilities will be open seven days per week from 8am-8pm.

Neighborhood Depository Locations:

• 5565 Kirkpatrick 713-675-3208 Northeast area
• 9200 Lawndale 713-926-1247 Southeast area
• 5100 Sunbeam 713-738-1936 South area

The Environmental Service Center (South), 11500 South Post Oak will be open tomorrow and Wednesday from 9am- 3pm to accept household hazardous waste and residential electronic scraps. The Westpark Recycling Center, 5900 Westpark is currently open. Days and hours of operation are Monday-Saturday from 8am-5pm.

The Solid Waste Management Department is responsible for solid waste services to approximately 400,000 Houston homes.