Solid Waste Management Department Preparing to Expand
Automated Recycling Pilot Program To Part of Sharpstown

7/6/09

 

We have just been notified by the City of Houston that Sharpstown Country Club Terrace 3 (south of Bellaire, east of Corporate, west of Gessner) will soon be added to this successful pilot program.  Participants should receive direct mailing from the City explaining the what-where-why of the program.  

We do know that you'll receive a 96 gallon green recycle container that you'd use instead of the current "green plastic box" that we have now.  Sharpstown has good recycling numbers, insofar as participation, with the current boxes. 

Hopefully, we'll perform even better with the new containers.  They can not only take more and different types of recycles, but they'll require less "homeowner separation" of materials for recycle.

The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is preparing to add an additional 6,000–10,000 homes to the pilot program.  Initial reports state that 59% of the homes in the Automated Recycling Pilot Program participated in the first collection of recyclable materials.  This figure represents a 34% increase in resident participation  from the overall Curbside Recycling Program.  Modification and overhaul of existing SWMD vehicles is ongoing and they will be added to the dedicated recycling truck fleet, making every attempt to save tax dollars.  A new truck would cost taxpayers approximately two hundred thousand dollars. By performing proper maintenance and use of existing vehicles, the City is saving and stretching valuable taxpayer dollars to expand the pilot program area.

You don't need to be an "environmental nut" to recognize that there are only so many landfills available.  And, increasingly, they have to be further and further out from the City.  All of us can do our part to both reduce costs and save the environment by continuing and expanding our participation in neighborhood recycling.

More information will be published as soon as it becomes available.  If you have questions about the program, contact the City at 311.