HOUSTON – With ongoing trash and recycling delays across Houston, leaving bins overflowing and residents frustrated, the City Council and the Mayor have made a multi-million dollar move they hope will finally get services back on track.
On Wednesday at City Council, Mayor John Whitmire expressed that the Solid Waste Department now has the staffing in place to deal with recycling and trash services, but they need the vehicles to do the work.
City Council then voted to approve more than $12.4 million for the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department to buy up to 31 new garbage and recycling trucks.
The mayor insists that 11 of those trucks would be operational within two days of the purchase order. ,
Another change announced is that drivers will be able to operate other types of large trucks for which they are certified. In the past, only side truck operators could drive those trucks. Under the new policy, they will be able to drive the rear-loading trucks and vice versa.
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The city is now turning its attention to the contract involving Houston’s recycling. The city only has one drop-off location, which can cause delays along the routes.
“When you drill down to the contract and talk to the director, we must do better even if we have to challenge them in court,” said Mayor Whitmire. “ We can’t let them hold us hostage to one drop-off for 600 square miles if we have the personnel and the trucks in place.”
He questions the overall deal, adding, “There was a model that was put into place in the city of Houston that is counterproductive to successful recycling.”
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