HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Across the city, Houstonians say they are facing backlogs and delays in heavy trash and yard waste pickup. To improve this problem, the city has hired contractors and added dozens of trucks to its fleet. Still, it’s unclear if these steps are making a difference.<\/p>\n
Edward Johnson said tree limbs have been sitting on the curb in his northwest Houston neighborhood for months, waiting to be picked up.<\/p>\n
“Tree waste, there are mattresses, there is furniture,” Johnson said as he pointed out the trash in his neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Johnson is not the only Houston resident waiting for heavy trash and yard waste pickup. The city’s solid waste webpage says yard waste is delayed because crews are being sent to help with recycling and heavy trash instead.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Houston Solid Waste Management says it’s adding new trucks in aim to improve trash pickup<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Solid Waste explained that the slowdown started because more people are putting out extra waste. A shortage of trucks worsened the situation, so the city added 50 new trucks in October 2025.<\/p>\n When asked by Eyewitness News, Solid Waste did not say if the new trucks had helped or when service would return to normal.<\/p>\n The delay notice says residents can take their yard waste to one of six neighborhood drop-off sites. However, Johnson said getting his debris to the nearest site, about six miles away, is not easy for everyone.<\/p>\n “I don’t have a truck. I don’t think anyone around here…he used to, but I don’t have anyone I know that has a truck to be able to take it over there,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n In December, the city hired a contractor to help clear the backlog. ABC13 asked for an update on their progress on Thursday, but Solid Waste did not respond.<\/p>\n For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n