Recycling

I’m pleased to announce that the Single-Stream Recycling Program will be extended to over 60,000 additional households throughout Houston. More than 15 District C neighborhoods will receive their 96-gallon green bins over the next few weeks, including portions of Lazybrook, Timbergrove, the Heights, Rice Military, and Boulevard Oaks.

The Solid Waste Department has provided a mapping tool that enables residents to check whether their homes are included in the latest expansion and when their new service days will be.

More good news for this program
Within Mayor Parker’s recently released budget proposal for FY2015 is the recommendation to expand single-stream recycling to all of Houston. If this measure is approved by Council, by the completion of FY2015 (which ends June 30, 2015), all homes in our city will enjoy this program.

Happy recycling!

This last Thursday, I saw some things out for recycling in Lazybrook that I would like to talk to you about.  Some of the plastics were Styrofoam.  I’m really sorry, but the city cannot recycle those; you will have to throw them away or find a use for them.  We could always start a letter campaign to educate businesses to use more green packing material.  Call me if you are interested!!  713-880-3845.

I know we are all hot, but I want you to read this from the planet green site: “Air conditioning takes indoor heat and pushes it outdoors. To do this, it uses energy, which increases production of greenhouse gases, which warm the atmosphere. From a cooling standpoint, the first transaction is a wash, and the second is a loss. We’re cooking our planet to refrigerate the diminishing part that’s still habitable.” Think about it and let me know what fun/credible ideas you have for keeping cool without using so much air conditioning!!    Visit the Planet Green site for quick tips for cooling off without air conditioning.

I wanted to share this email with you that I received from the City:

Effective Friday, July 1, 2011, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department will change days of operation at the six neighborhood depositories (junk waste & recycling drop-off sites).  “The days of service will resume to Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday),” said Harry Hayes, Solid Waste Management Director.
Full operations and services will be maintained at these six facilities (listed below) five days a week except holidays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  for the convenience of the residents of the City of Houston. Citizens are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to allow adequate time to unload.

The six neighborhood depositories are listed below, our nearest is “North” at 9003 North Main.  Remember that to take things to drop off, you must prove (with a recent utility bill) your residence in Houston.

1. Northeast – 5565 Kirkpatrick, 77028 – 713.675.3208
2. Northwest – 14440 Sommermeyer, 77041 – 713.895.1002
3. North – 9003 North Main, 77022 – 713.694-8435 – NEW!
4. Southeast – 2240 Central, 77017 – 713.847.1188
5. South – 5100 Sunbeam, 77033 – 713.738.1936
6. Southwest – 10785 Southwest Fwy, 77074 – 713.837.0311  – NEW!

Also, to close, I want to share with you an article from the Chronicle.  It was entitled, “Cable box pushing electricity bills up” from June 26, 2011.  The gist of the article was about how costly those set-top boxes are “because their drives, tuners, and other components are generally running full tilt or nearly so, 24 hours a day, even when not in active use”.  It just goes to show how much electricity we use without even realizing it.  Anything that you can turn off when not using it usually is a good thing.  For instance, did you know that as long as you do not use the light again for 25 seconds, it is energy efficient to turn it out when you leave a room? That amazes me, but Myth Busters tested that claim and I believe them.

You have asked me so many times when we will be getting the automated recycling with the rolling bin, like our trash containers.  I spoke to Marilyn Leday, who has been the right hand of Ed Chin for many years.  They are the ones at the city that we worked with when recycling started.  She told me that the neighborhoods are chosen because they can be added with the greatest efficiency – either because they are next to another neighborhood that is receiving automated recycling or because it’s the right size to be added to a route, or some other circumstance really out of our hands.  However, it is my belief that if we had a greater percentage of people recycling regularly, we would be in a better position to ask the city to consider us.  Think about it, if we have more recycling and more households participating, we would be a more efficient neighborhood to add to the list.

Please, also, fold, cut up or in some way flatten your cardboard when you put it out.  It’s really hard for those guys to deal with whole boxes – especially when there is stuff inside.  Also, remember that if you need another green bin, you may call 311 and request one.  And, if you need any info, I will be glad to do research if I don’t know the answer.

Also, you might watch out at HEB and at Lowe’s for  “Houston Mulch” which is processed at Living Earth and comes from our tree waste here in Houston!!  Let me know if you buy some – give me a report to put in the next article!