President's Report: Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council / by Michael Graves

President's Report: Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council

By Michal Graves

Super Neighorhood 15 - SWM Update on Trash Collection

The Greater Heights Super Neighborhood (SN15) is an umbrella organization that includes Houston Heights Association, Woodland Heights Civic Association, Norhill Neighborhood Association, Sunset Heights Association, East Sunset Heights Association, Montie Beach Civic Club and Clark Pines Civic Association.

The SN15 Council meets every two months at the Old Heights Fire Station on 12th Street. Meetings are open to the public. The most recent meeting was Tuesday, April 21st. The headline presentation was by John Richardson, Deputy Assistant Director, City of Houston Solid Waste Management. Dep. Director Richardson had a number of interesting things to say.

First, a reminder: it’s good to use the HTX Collects mobile app to stay abreast of the SWM collection schedule.

Heavy Trash Collection

A couple of months ago there were media reports that the city was planning to switch to an on-demand process for heavy trash collection. This effort has been scrapped.

As in the past, heavy trash is collected only during even numbered months (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec.) Heavy trash collection now includes tree waste.

Heavy trash is collected by crews using a claw and a large truck. The material is entirely handled by machine. On that basis, smaller items will not be collected by a heavy trash crew.

Yard Waste Collection

Yard waste includes grass clippings, bagged leaves and bundles of sticks no longer than 4 feet. Bagged yard waste must be in city of Houston approved composable bags. Brown paper bags are not acceptable. It can also be in a homeowners own trash cans. That is, not the city issued trash bins.

A homeowner requiring yard waste collection should call 311 to get on a list. Each week the collection routes are created based upon that list. Each homeowner can order one pickup a week.

Yard waste will be picked up by crews using old style garbage trucks. The material is handled by-hand. Anything to big or heavy to be handled by hand will not be collected.

Curbside Recycling

Curbside Recycling Collection is largely back to a normal schedule. The city issued recycling bins are collected using an automated, side-loading truck.

The major problem with recycling is contamination of the goods being collected. Goods to be recycled should be clean and must not be in plastic bags! Plastic bags are not recyclable, and they jam up the sorting equipment. Recyclables that are in plastic bags end up in landfill.

Solid Waste Hotline

Solid Waste Management has a new telephone hotline specifically tailored to issues to trash collection. To use this hotline you must first have a 311 incident number.

The SWM hotline at (832) 394-1453 is available Monday-Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm. It’s staffed by Solid Waste specialists.

They can address issues common to trash and recycling collection better than the generic 311 help desk, but you must already have a 311 case number to call them.

Residential Drop-Off Centers

If you just want some recycling, yard waste or heavy trash gone pronto, you can take it  to a Residential Drop-Off Center up to four times per month. Residents are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time to allow adequate time to unload.

Drop Off Hours

  • Tuesday- Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm

  • Closed on Sunday and Monday

When taking a load to the depot you should bring a copy of a recent water bill as proof if residency. They do not accept hazardous materials or electronic waste.