HOUSTON — The ongoing complaints regarding missed recycling pickups during the summer months have brought to light issues within Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department, leading to increased calls for the implementation of a solid waste fee to support waste collection services.
In June alone, data from 311 revealed a concerning spike in complaints, with over 8,000 instances reported for missed recycling collection. Other categories, such as garbage and heavy trash pickups, also saw a rise in complaints, highlighting growing dissatisfaction among residents.
The department has recently experienced a leadership shakeup. Former Director Mark Wilfalk resigned in March, and Larius Hassen stepped in as interim director. During a City Council meeting held on Wednesday, he provided insights into the factors impacting service levels at the department.
Among these factors are the loss of 30 employees due to retirement buyout plans initiated by the previous administration, outdated routing software, an aging fleet of vehicles, and the limitation of having only one location for trucks to drop off recycling waste for processing.
City council members, including District I Council Member Joaquin Martinez, emphasized the need for additional support for the Solid Waste Management Department. “Every neighboring city has a trash fee,” he stated during the meeting. “I think we all know that that needs to be looked at.”
Houston stands out as a major city in Texas lacking a dedicated solid waste fee. Currently, funding for the Solid Waste Management Department is drawn from the city’s General Fund balance, while cities like Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio impose fees ranging from approximately $14 to $38.
KHOU 11 recently interviewed Houstonians experiencing delays in recycling collection to gauge their openness to a solid waste fee aimed at improving service. One resident, Russell Grones of Westbury, expressed support for such a measure, stating, “Yeah, you have to do something with [recycling]. If not, it’s going into the landfill, which isn’t the best place for it.”
A survey conducted by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in 2023 indicated that about two-thirds of Houstonians surveyed would be in favor of a solid waste collection fee. Recent smaller surveys have corroborated this finding, also showing that around 66% of residents would support the idea in 2025.
However, there are concerns from some residents regarding the financial impacts of a potential fee. Mary Plail, a retiree from Westbury, voiced her apprehensions, saying, “We’re both retirees and we are on fixed incomes. I mean, it depends if it’s outrageously expensive; probably then I would take it to the dump or recycling center or even consider not doing it.”
Daniel Potter from the Kinder Institute highlighted that survey respondents expressed interest in a sliding scale for any solid waste fee, allowing adjustments based on household income. The 2023 data indicates that the City of Houston spends around $18 per household on solid waste services from the General Fund.
Potter noted that adding a dedicated fee, ranging from $10 to $15, could effectively align Houston’s spending on trash and recycling with that of other Texas cities. He remarked, “The funding that we are spending here in Houston for our trash and recycling pickups is quite comparable to what is being spent elsewhere.”
Such an adjustment in funding could significantly enhance the department’s capabilities. “We could anticipate that [the fee] could go a long way to helping improve, buying additional trucks, getting additional crew members, the different things that are needed to help stand up better functioning trash and recycling pickup,” Potter asserted.
Discussions around introducing a solid waste fee have been ongoing within City Hall. Council members like Joaquin Martinez have been particularly vocal, underscoring constituents’ receptiveness to the idea if it leads to improved services.
Solid Waste Interim Director Larius Hassen acknowledged the necessity of a solid waste fee, stating, “It is going to have to come in sooner or later,” while emphasizing that he is currently focused on an overhaul of the department.
Mayor John Whitmire has indicated that discussions regarding a solid waste fee will likely be incorporated into next year’s city budget planning. He has reiterated a desire to address efficiencies citywide before approaching taxpayers to discuss their desired city services and explore revenue-generating options.
Last year, the City Council commissioned a study analyzing potential improvements for the Solid Waste Management Department, including the implications of a fee. A spokesperson for Mayor Whitmire announced that the findings of this study will be reviewed by Solid Waste Management later this month, prior to a briefing for the mayor.
image source from：khou
