Solid Waste Generation

The Houston-Galveston region generates 4.5 million tons of solid waste each year. Approximately 58 percent comes from residential collection; the rest is produced by multi-family housing, businesses, and other activities. Paper, cardboard, aluminum, and yard waste – all recyclable materials – compose 60 percent of collected waste.[i]

The average person in the area produces about 7.09 pounds of solid waste per day, adding up to 1.3 tons per year. The region’s daily per capita solid waste production rose 0.84 pounds between the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) 1998 and 2000 reporting cycles.[ii] Although this increase can be partially attributed to more accurate reporting from landfills, increased consumption because of a strong economy and product packaging are also to blame. Declining prices for recyclable materials has lowered the cost effectiveness of recycling certain items as well.

Solid Waste Disposal

The Houston-Galveston area generally disposes of its waste within its own boundaries. In fact, slightly more waste enters the region for disposal than is sent to other places. Based on 2000 disposal rates, the region’s 21 landfills will reach full capacity by 2013.[iii]

Recycling

The city of Houston offers curbside recycling, paid for by tax dollars, to neighborhoods that request it. Currently, more than 150,000 homes are enrolled in the program, with a participation rate as high as 85 percent in some areas, according to city officials. The city also picks up yard waste for composting and maintains several drop-off locations for those without curbside service.

Still, the city collects only about 60,000 tons of recyclables, according to its most recent available statistics. That’s about 10 percent of its residential solid waste stream. For comparison, the city of Los Angeles recycles about 40 percent of its residential waste stream, and the city of Chicago about 25 percent, according to their statistics.

Future Plans

In 1989, the 71st Texas Legislature enacted a bill that required the state of Texas, regional planning agencies, and local government to develop solid waste plans. H-GAC’s regional plan calls for construction of several new landfills and expansion of existing facilities. However, its overall goal is to decrease per capita waste disposal in the region’s landfills by 80 percent by 2012 through reducing, reusing, and recycling.[iv]

Some question if meeting this lofty goal is probable or even possible. Declining prices for recycled materials combined with readily available landfill space have lowered the cost effectiveness of recycling, causing many localities to discontinue services. In 1999, the city of Houston stopped picking up glass for recycling due to dropping prices. Also, H-GAC offers training, data and information resources, and funding to help local governments design better solid waste management programs, but has no authorization to force regulations on municipalities, which are charged with actual waste collection. And, the city of Houston, the region’s largest municipality, has no plans and no budget to significantly increase recycling services in the near future.

Recent Progress

Building Infrastructure

Although per capita waste disposal recently increased, the region has begun to build the infrastructure needed to lower those figures. From 1993 to 1999, there was a 168 percent increase in recycling and source reduction programs. [v]

Electronic Scrap Recycling

Electronic equipment can contain hazardous materials that can leach out of traditional landfills, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. Through the new electronic scrap recycling pilot program, the city of Houston now accepts monitors, televisions, printers, keyboards, mice, scanners, fax machines, telephone handsets, VCRs, CPUs, cellular phones without batteries, and other small consumer electronics. Usable components are recovered and the rest is recycled or disposed of appropriately. For details on drop off locations and times, call the recycling hotline at 713-837-9130.

Houston-Galveston College and University Recycling Council

Recycling coordinators from several local colleges and universities banded together this year to form the Houston-Galveston College and University Recycling Council, which will share experiences and strategies to reduce waste and increase recycling on campus. For more information, call 713-348-5272.

What You Can Do

Reduce and reuse

Shop smart. Choose products that use less packaging. Buy bulk items whenever feasible. Bring your own canvas shopping bags to the grocery store and use a coffee mug instead of paper cups.

Recycle

Glass, metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, motor oil, batteries, and tires are all recyclable. To find the nearest recycling drop-off site, call the Recycling Hotline at 713-837-9130. Many neighborhoods offer curbside pick up of recyclable materials as well.

Start a recycling program in your neighborhood

For information on bringing curbside recycling to your neighborhood, call the Recycling Hotline at 713-837-9130. The City of Houston provides this service free of charge; residents of other municipalities may have to pay a monthly fee. The Houston-Galveston Area Council distributes grants to cities, school districts, and schools to set up recycling and composting programs. Call 713-627-3200 for more information.

Buy recycled products

Look for products and packaging that incorporate recycled material. In order for recycling programs to work, there must be a market for recycled products.

Compost

Approximately 30 percent of the garbage generated in the region is composed of food and yard waste.[vi] Composting can reduce waste significantly, and provide a valuable soil enhancer that improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention. If you live in Houston and cannot compost at home, separate your yard waste and the city will recycle it. If you live outside Houston, call the Recycling Hotline at 713-837-9130 to find out where to take your food and yard waste for composting.

Dispose of household hazardous wastes appropriately

Any product labeled danger, poison, warning, caution, flammable, combustible, or corrosive should be handled carefully. Paints, solvents, pesticides, herbicides, automotive products, and cleaning products are considered household hazardous waste and require special disposal. Inappropriate disposal can lead to air, water, and soil contamination, and can be dangerous to waste collectors and landfill workers. 

First, choose less toxic alternatives or buy only the quantity you need. To avoid disposing of hazardous products, use them completely or give them to someone who will. If you must throw away a potentially dangerous item, call Houston Household Hazardous Waste Information Line at 713-247-8589 to find out whether it is considered hazardous and how to dispose of it.

Organize a neighborhood clean-up

Contact Keep Houston Beautiful at 713-839-8855 for the information and tools needed to lead a neighborhood clean-up.

Report illegal dumping

Call the Rat-On-A-Rat Program at (713) 525-A-RAT to report illegal trash dumping.