Letter to the Editor

Thank you to everyone who has contacted my office about missed trash, recycling, heavy trash, and yard waste collections. I know that you are frustrated that this core service is not being taken care of in the manner that it should, and I am frustrated too. Below is a copy of my Letter to the Editor that appears in today’s Houston Chronicle:

Regarding “Recycling overtime cost nears $1M” (Front page, Monday):

Taxpayers in the city of Houston pay for our government to provide core services such as public safety, infrastructure maintenance, water service and solid waste collection. Unfortunately the city needs to be reminded that these core services must be handled properly before focusing on other matters.

As Houston City Council Member for District A, my constituents continue reporting to me that their trash and recycling pickup have been missed for weeks at a time. While I would hope that my constituents could count on a consistent schedule for solid waste pickup, the only thing they can count on is inconsistency. This lack of predictability impacts the quality of life for all Houstonians, and fixing this problem is going to come at a high cost.

Besides the negative perception that the accumulation of trash brings to our communities, this continuing problem has the potential to become a health hazard and a public safety crisis. It also can impact drainage as the trash accumulates in our ditches. We need to take drastic measures immediately, and we need a permanent solution. Whether that means bringing in outside resources or starting over with a fresh pickup schedule, tough choices need to be made now. I want to see a detailed report to City Council from the Solid Waste Department about why and how we got to this point.

My constituents and all Houstonians are frustrated, and I am frustrated that they are not getting the services that they pay for. Instead of focusing on these basic services, time and resources are being expended elsewhere. We must prioritize needs over wants, especially when our needs are growing. I will continue advocating for reliability, customer service, and for our core services to be prioritized.

Brenda Stardig, District A,
Houston City Council

Solid Waste Schedule

Per the Solid Waste Department as of 1/16/19

Saturday, January 19, 2019
Thursday’s & Friday’s A-Week Curbside Recycling pickup

Monday, January 21, 2019 (Martin Luther King Jr) CITY HOLIDAY: NO COLLECTION SERVICES. All facilities and services closed.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Monday’s Garbage Collected.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Tuesday’s Garbage Collected.

Thursday, January 24, 2019
Thursday’s Garbage Collected.

Friday, January 25, 2019
Friday’s Garbage Collected.

Saturday, January 26, 2019
Monday’s & Tuesday’s B-Week Curbside Recycling pickup.

Sunday, January 27, 2019
Thursday’s & Friday’s B-Week Curbside Recycling pickup.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Monday’s & Tuesday’s A-Week Curbside Recycling pickup.

Saturday, February 2, 2019
Thursday’s & Friday’s A-Week Curbside Recycling pickup.

Find your service days here: http://mycity.houstontx.gov/mycityapps/mycity_serviceinfo_query.html

Heavy trash crews are currently working on the following schedule:

Northeast Operations: 4th Wednesday Routes
Southeast Operations: 4th Friday Routes

For updates visit, http://houstontx.gov/solidwaste/press-01112019b.html