Across neighborhoods in Houston, quite often a sea of green recycling bins can be seen, with many overflowing and waiting to be emptied. Unfortunately for residents, the city’s recycling collection service has once again fallen behind schedule, causing frustration and growing complaints.
Residents voice frustration over missed pickups
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“It’s been inconsistent,” said one Heights resident, reflecting the sentiments of many others in the city. “They tell you they’re going to pick them up on a certain day, and they don’t.”
According to the city’s 311 service, complaints about missed recycling pickups have surged. In the first 10 days of 2025 alone, nearly 1,000 complaints were logged, signaling a significant issue with the program’s reliability.
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City officials, including the director of the Houston Solid Waste Management Department, Mark Wilfalk, acknowledge the problem but say the city’s rapid growth has outpaced the department’s ability to keep up with demand.
“We haven’t kept up with that growth and development,” said the department’s director. “We’re going to have to expect some delay.”
The director’s comments echo a broader challenge facing Houston as it struggles to address increasing population and waste management needs. While the city’s recycling program has faced delays in the past, the recent spike in complaints has made it a more pressing concern for residents.
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Proposal for monthly recycling fee sparks debate
To address the issue, the director is advocating for a model similar to those in other Texas cities, such as San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, where residents pay a monthly fee for garbage and recycling services. The director suggests that a fee of between $15 and $40 per month per household could help fund the necessary improvements.
However, the proposal has already drawn resistance from residents, many of whom argue that they already pay enough through property taxes. “I already pay enough in property taxes to cover this,” one resident remarked.
Director emphasizes the need for additional funding
Despite the pushback, the director insists that without additional funding, the city cannot improve the recycling service. “People are complaining about the service now, and they’re going to complain about a fee,” he said. “But we can’t expect to deliver quality service if we’re not investing the resources into the program.”
A new fee would require city council approval.
The Mayor has yet to take a public stance on the proposed fee. While he has expressed support for improved service. If the Solid Waste director gets his way, a decision could come by late 2025 or early 2026.
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Stopgap measures coming soon
For now, residents will have to continue dealing with delayed and inconsistent service, the director said. Although he does plan to unveil a stopgap measure in the coming months to better illustrate when recycling will be picked up... even if it’s not on time.
