HOUSTON – Imagine driving through a neighborhood with recycling bins overflowing onto sidewalks, bags of soggy cardboard and aluminum baking under the summer sun -- well, that’s a reality for residents across many Houston neighborhoods.
Residents say their recycling hasn’t been picked up for more than a month, despite the city reporting only a two-week delay.
Residents impacted by this delay are concerned about public health and safety issue. The combination of uncollected recyclables, rising temperatures, and heavy rain has created unpleasant and potentially hazardous conditions.
“It’s been 42 days”
“I think tomorrow marks the third missed pickup cycle for our street,” one Greater Heights resident told KPRC 2. “It’s been 42 days since our last recycling collection.”
Another resident, Lawson Pyles, echoed that frustration.
“It’s been probably about a month now,” Pyles said. “It’s just been sitting out there. We’ve got recycling piling up in the back. I’ve got a feeling they’re not coming.”
Some neighbors say they’ve been forced to come up with their own solutions, driving to local drop-off sites or simply holding onto their recyclables. But even those options aren’t easy.
“There’s always a line. I usually go there to drop off yard waste too, which also hasn’t been picked up in weeks,” one resident said.
The city’s response: Aging trucks, long waits
The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department says the issue comes down to equipment. A spokesperson confirmed that 46 collection trucks are currently inoperable due to wear and tear, and replacing the fleet could take up to 6–8 months.
When asked about a concrete timeline for when residents can expect regular recycling pickup to resume, officials were unable to provide one.
Frustration is mounting among residents who say they’d be willing to pay more in taxes for basic city services.
“What’s it going to take to get that fleet up and running?” asked Cindy Burns, a longtime Houstonian. “I would pay more taxes just to make sure my trash really does get removed.”
Relief coming soon?
The city has reportedly approved the purchase of 34 new trucks, but it could take 6–8 weeks to acquire and deploy them. In the meantime, the city’s website states that recycling collection should resume by June 30, though many residents remain skeptical.
If you’ve been affected by the ongoing delay, let us know. We’re committed to finding ways that “2 Can Help You.”
