June 21, 2021
1. Pilot Education Program to Improve Curbside Residential Recycling:
Feet on the Street, Cart Tagging Project.
In May the City of Houston initiated a new recycling education program called Feet on the Street, to monitor and tag recycling carts that contain non-accepted items.
The goal of the program is to improve the quantity and quality of recyclables collected in the curbside recycling cart. Currently, more than 35% of what is collected in the single-stream program is contamination.
How the Cart Tagging Project works:
Inspectors will visit a study area of 60,000 homes over a period of six months to observe the contents of residents’ recycling carts. If the visual inspection shows non-recyclables or trash in the cart, an Oops! Tag will be attached to remind the residents of correct recyclables as well as the contaminant found. If the cart has non-accepted items in it, the resident will receive a warning tag. Residents will receive one warning, and if on the next visit non-accepted items are found the resident will receive a red tag and the cart will not be collected. The cart will be re-checked the next collection cycle, and if the issue has been corrected the cart will be collected.
Inspectors will visit a study area of 60,000 homes over a period of six months to observe the contents of residents’ recycling carts. If the visual inspection shows non-recyclables or trash in the cart, an Oops! Tag will be attached to remind the residents of correct recyclables as well as the contaminant found. If the cart has non-accepted items in it, the resident will receive a warning tag. Residents will receive one warning, and if on the next visit non-accepted items are found the resident will receive a red tag and the cart will not be collected. The cart will be re-checked the next collection cycle, and if the issue has been corrected the cart will be collected.
Here is the Press Release for the project from the City of Houston.
City of Houston web page for How to recycle right.
Web page for Feet on the Street, and the Oops! Cards.
2. City of Houston maps pathway to create mandatory recycling for apartment and multi-family residential properties, and authorizes a pilot residential composting program.
During recent budget discussions, the Houston City Council approved amendments that would set the timeline for the City to create a mandatory recycling program for multi-family residential properties (amendment by Abbie Kamin, District C); and initiate a pilot composting program (amendment by Sallie Alcorn, At Large #5).
The case for expanding recycling in Houston to multi-family properties is made in these comments from Environment Texas to the City Council.
3. Partners in Litter Prevention (PLP)
PLP is a new region wide coalition of groups whose mission is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of litter and plastic pollution on our local natural resources, wildlife, economy, public health and our quality of life. PLP will be coordinating and helping to publicize local clean up events, and supporting research and documentation on the types and sources of litter and plastic pollution.
PLP is planning some "Plastic Free July" efforts in the second half of July to encourage a reduction of single-use plastic, and the resulting plastic waste that can end up on area waterways and shorelines.
More info on PLP can be found at the PLP website.
The PLP website includes a regional map for upcoming clean up events.
4. SPLASh - Stopping Plastics & Litter Along Shorelines.
Another new effort to address coastal plastic pollution is SPLASh.
In 2020, American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Black Cat GIS formed SPLASh, or Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines, in order to address the overlapping issues of trash pollution and wildlife conservation. SPLASh holds monthly cleanups open to the public as well as organizing events for schools, businesses, and various groups.
Learn more at the SPLASh website.
For questions or comments, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com