Neighbors said debris piles have been a problem for months, though the City of Houston has rules when it comes to what you can put out for collection and when.
HOUSTON — In Shady Tidwell Timbers, tree debris is not the biggest concern, though it’s piling up, too.
Neighbors said heavy trash or bulk waste, including several toilets, is something they’d really like swept away.
“The City ain’t picked it up,” longtime resident Lindsey Foreman said. “Now, tell me what the problem is with the City, and then we’ll have a solution to the problem.”
He said some piles have been in the neighborhood for months, including in front of Breanna Boyd’s home.
The single mom told us she’s supposed to get rid of some of the mess on her own, but it’s hard.
That’s something older neighbors struggle with as well.
“And it seems like they prioritize other neighborhoods,” Boyd said. “I don’t want to say what I’m trying not to say, but I feel like the nicer neighborhoods are a little bit more prioritized.”
Civic club president Jimmy Rawls initially reached out to us about the piles of debris he marked in red on maps in order to share with the city.
“We want the City of Houston to step up,” Rawls said.
According to the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Department’s website, bulk waste pickup was at least two weeks behind as of Tuesday afternoon. Click here to see the pickup schedule.
And while we’re still waiting on information regarding this specific neighborhood, it’s important to keep in mind that tree waste and bulk waste are on separate pickup schedules.
Residents are encouraged not to even put it out outside of those timeframes.
Regardless, many want what’s already piled up addressed.
“I would just like you to clean it up, quite literally,” Boyd said. “And give us a better timeline so we wouldn’t do things like this.”
KHOU 11 News reached out to the City’s Solid Waste Department about the Shady Tidwell Timbers area and the delays in collection. It issued this statement:
“Thank you for reaching out regarding heavy trash service in the Shady Tidwell Timbers area. Our records show two service requests for this address. One was submitted on June 20, 2025, and collected on June 23, 2025. A recent request was submitted on August 20, 2025.
“Crews are working to bring service back on schedule, and the area is expected to be serviced by the end of the business day on Friday.
“Please remind residents and your viewers that heavy trash (bulk waste) is collected during even-numbered months, while heavy tree waste is collected during odd-numbered months. For example, a request made in May would not have fallen within the heavy trash collection schedule.
“Please note that this service line can present challenges, as larger volumes set out by residents may extend the time required for crews to complete collections. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work diligently to maintain timely and reliable service.”
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