Houston residents face ongoing recycling collection delays, prompting frustrations and creative disposal solutions.
HOUSTON — While delays in recycling collection continue across Houston, residents remain frustrated but some city leaders are considering options which may offer some relief.
Following KHOU 11’s previous reporting on the topic, several Houston residents sent emails about delayed collection in their neighborhoods. Some have since said their recycling waste has been collected after weeks of delays.
For others, the delayed recycling collection woes continue.
“We’re trying to be good stewards of the environment, but the reality is hasn’t been picked up and it’s completely full,” Liz Akhave of Houston Heights told KHOU 11 earlier this week.
Akhave and her husband Neil said they have lived in their Heights home for several years but have never experienced recycling waste delays like they are currently.
“We’re now going on day eleven of our recycling [bin] sitting out there,” Akhave said.
It’s left them and their neighbors to figure out alternatives while they wait for collection.
“We all use each other’s bins if they’re not completely full,” Liz said.
“Sometimes we take it over to the depository and throw it away there or sometimes we put it in the trash, sadly,” Neil Akhave told KHOU 11.
Other residents in the area are also experiencing the same issue.
“My bin has been out here for now two weeks and I keep wondering if I should bring it back, but I, I assume any day they could come and I don’t want to miss the pickup,” Michelle Hahn said.
In Montrose, Roger Campagnola and his wife have also waited weeks.
“The backup plan I’m going to have to start creating little cardboard bins and taking it to recycling myself,” Campagnola said.
He said he has filed multiple 311 reports but is frustrated his green bin continues to sit on his curb.
“My reaction is that the city may not be making it a priority,” he said.
Campagnola told KHOU 11 he did receive a response today after reaching out directly to the mayor’s office.
The email they received from a Whitmire constituent advisor said the following:
Thank you for following up. We have received a great deal of phone calls and emails regarding missed collection and understand the frustration of residents as well as the inconvenience the delays cause. Please know that we have shared your concerns with the Department and have asked when you can expect your recycling and garbage to be serviced. We will follow up once we have an update.
“People are frustrated and tired of hearing the excuses about this,” District A City Council Member Amy Peck told KHOU 11 Tuesday.
Peck echoed statements from Mayor John Whitmire and Solid Waste Management that Interim Director Larius Hassen is working on new systems and models to implement at the department which will take time to take effect. On top of that, maintenance issues for department trucks has added to delays, though new equipment is set to be purchased soon.
Whitmire told KHOU 11’s Len Cannon that it would likely take until the fall to see recycling collection return to normal operations.
In the meantime, Peck said she hopes the city can consider other options to address the issue sooner.
“It’s my hope that in the interim, while [Hassen is] working on this, we can hire outside contractors, get some help to offer relief on our system while we’re making all of these meaningful and important changes,” Peck said.
District B Council Member Tarsha Jackson is chair of the Service Delivery Committee and told KHOU 11 she has sought to have Solid Waste Management appear publicly at committee meeting to report on the issue and offer clarity and answers to council members. But so far, she says the opportunity has been declined by the Whitmire administration.
People experiencing delays are encouraged to continue to report the issues to 311.