Recycling in Houston, Texas
Target:
Office of the Mayor, City of Houston
Sponsored by:
The City of Houston's recycling efforts are not up to par with major American cities (San Francisco recycles 70% of waste, Houston...just 2%). Learn more from May 8's episode, and sign this petition to demand more progress. The New Capital Show will deliver the petition to the Mayor and City Council on TUESDAY JULY 8 2:00PM AT CITY HALL. Petitioners are welcome to accompany us.
The New Capital Show is award-winning progressive talk radio on Houston KPFT 90.1 FM, a Pacifica network station, with podcasts and re-broadcasts available at http://www.newcapitalshow.com/. The show's host, Leo Gold, is a popular financial advisor, conservationist, and speaker who brings depth and passion to progressive issues. We welcome all petitioners from all over the world as we take action as a global community for a better planet.
The New Capital Show is award-winning progressive talk radio on Houston KPFT 90.1 FM, a Pacifica network station, with podcasts and re-broadcasts available at http://www.newcapitalshow.com/. The show's host, Leo Gold, is a popular financial advisor, conservationist, and speaker who brings depth and passion to progressive issues. We welcome all petitioners from all over the world as we take action as a global community for a better planet.
The City of Houston's recycling efforts are not up to par with major American cities (San Francisco recycles 70% of waste, Houston...just 2%). Learn more from May 8's episode, and sign this petition to demand more progress. The New Capital Show will deliver the petition to the Mayor and City Council on TUESDAY JULY 8 2:00PM AT CITY HALL. Petitioners are welcome to accompany us.
The New Capital Show is award-winning progressive talk radio on Houston KPFT 90.1 FM, a Pacifica network station, with podcasts and re-broadcasts available at http://www.newcapitalshow.com/. The show's host, Leo Gold, is a popular financial advisor, conservationist, and speaker who brings depth and passion to progressive issues. We welcome all petitioners from all over the world as we take action as a global community for a better planet.
The New Capital Show is award-winning progressive talk radio on Houston KPFT 90.1 FM, a Pacifica network station, with podcasts and re-broadcasts available at http://www.newcapitalshow.com/. The show's host, Leo Gold, is a popular financial advisor, conservationist, and speaker who brings depth and passion to progressive issues. We welcome all petitioners from all over the world as we take action as a global community for a better planet.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED:
1. Appreciate your ongoing efforts to enhance the City's recycling program (the "Program"), and your willingness to read and carefully consider this petition.
2. Recognize that Houston is a city of sufficient size that there are economic, environmental, and moral imperatives to have a high quality Program, as measured against American cities of similar size.
3. Believe that the current Program efforts are insufficient, inferior to comparable cities, and require additional effort and resources.
4. Request that the following be immediately undertaken with your leadership and in conjunction with City Council:
A. Formal adoption of "waste diversion rate" as the primary metric for measuring success of the Program, with regular tabulation and public release thereof. Waste diversion rate shall be defined as the sum of recycled volume, composted volume, and source volume reduced divided by total waste volume.
B. Integration of the Program with the City's "regular" waste disposal program so that the overall waste management system is considered and budgeted in a comprehensive manner.
C. To encourage greater public participation in the Program, implementation of variable user fees for "regular" waste collection, the central features being implementation of variable size collection bins, with (a) price increasing proportional to bin size, and (2) a no-fee baseline small bin.
D. Expanded acceptance of materials currently refused by the Program, such as glass and building materials.
E. Expanded coverage of the Program to include currently neglected communities, including apartment/condo dwellers and commercial businesses.
F. Implementation of regulatory mandates where applicable, including (a)a requirement that locally permitted commercial businesses additionally submit for approval and subsequently follow comprehensive waste disposal and recycling plans, and (b) regulation of other waste disposal businesses such that they too must be in compliance with City Program-related regulations.
G. Implementation of industry best practices, including such Program initiatives as food waste recycling/composting from local restaurants and food stores, and recycling/re-use of demolished building materials by construction developers.
I. Creation of plans to gradually and appropriately bring about mandatory public participation in the Program.
J. Creation of formal and ongoing contacts, visitations, and study of comparable city programs for the express purpose of implementing ongoing improvements to the Program.
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We signed the "Recycling in Houston, Texas" petition!
# 1,081:
7:29 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Carol Kelly, Texas
Please keep the recycling program it is very important to me. thanks Carol
Please keep the recycling program it is very important to me. thanks Carol
# 1,080:
7:04 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Philip Krieg, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,079:
6:25 pm PDT, Jul 3,
C. Douglas Brookover, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,078:
3:01 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Crystal Mccullough, Texas
Why are only select neighborhoods given recycling bins? How can recycling become more accessable to those living outside of loop 610?
Why are only select neighborhoods given recycling bins? How can recycling become more accessable to those living outside of loop 610?
# 1,077:
12:59 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Jane Greenberg, Texas
I live in Southampton, a neighborhood just north of Rice University. There is no curbside recycling in this neighborhood. Although I am certain that many more people would recycle had they the convenience of curbside, I am heartened each time I go for my weekly drop off at the recycling center. The place is typically full of those trying to do their part to care for this planet. So full at times that waiting is required (one of the few times I am pleased to have to wait). I absolutely would pay whatever fee to ensure that Houston steps up its recycling! As a transplant from San Francisco, I am appalled by the discrepancy between the two cities. There are so many things I'd like to recycle here in Houston, and should be able to, but no place will take them. Thank you for any effort to push forward Houston's lagging and lacking recycling program.
I live in Southampton, a neighborhood just north of Rice University. There is no curbside recycling in this neighborhood. Although I am certain that many more people would recycle had they the convenience of curbside, I am heartened each time I go for my weekly drop off at the recycling center. The place is typically full of those trying to do their part to care for this planet. So full at times that waiting is required (one of the few times I am pleased to have to wait). I absolutely would pay whatever fee to ensure that Houston steps up its recycling! As a transplant from San Francisco, I am appalled by the discrepancy between the two cities. There are so many things I'd like to recycle here in Houston, and should be able to, but no place will take them. Thank you for any effort to push forward Houston's lagging and lacking recycling program.
# 1,076:
12:53 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Emily Hill, Texas
Please. It's ridiculous that we dont already do this.
Please. It's ridiculous that we dont already do this.
# 1,075:
12:43 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Leticia Sanchez, Texas
I moved to Friendswood from San Antonio and was amazed that I couldn't get the neighborhood to approve a recylcing program. I have to pack up my recyclables and drop them off every two weeks. It's bad enough to put up with the pollution from the chemical plants but I can't believe that so many people are against recycling. I do applaud the mayor for attempting to make companies enforce environmental regulations. Now he needs to make recyling a priority of the city.
I moved to Friendswood from San Antonio and was amazed that I couldn't get the neighborhood to approve a recylcing program. I have to pack up my recyclables and drop them off every two weeks. It's bad enough to put up with the pollution from the chemical plants but I can't believe that so many people are against recycling. I do applaud the mayor for attempting to make companies enforce environmental regulations. Now he needs to make recyling a priority of the city.
# 1,074:
12:19 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Ann Campbell, Texas
We live in Bunker Hill Village and I am not even sure if they recycle the recycling we put out. They will remove everything even glass, but it can't be recycled with what they take (I take my glass and cardboard to the recycling center). We lived overseas for years and I am very disappointed with the feabile efforts of Houston in this department. We need to be responsible citizens of the world, not just consumer users who fill up landfills.
We live in Bunker Hill Village and I am not even sure if they recycle the recycling we put out. They will remove everything even glass, but it can't be recycled with what they take (I take my glass and cardboard to the recycling center). We lived overseas for years and I am very disappointed with the feabile efforts of Houston in this department. We need to be responsible citizens of the world, not just consumer users who fill up landfills.
# 1,073:
12:18 pm PDT, Jul 3,
Todd Freeman, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,072:
11:11 am PDT, Jul 3,
Carl Hardee, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,071:
11:06 am PDT, Jul 3,
Camille Converse, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,070:
10:49 am PDT, Jul 3,
Amanda Stinger, Missouri
please increase Houston's social and enviro-responsibility!
please increase Houston's social and enviro-responsibility!
# 1,069:
10:47 am PDT, Jul 3,
Terri Hudler-Hull, Texas
I love the fact that Houston is recycling, however, it could be broader. Mine gets picked up every other week and so on the weeks I have too much to hold on to I take it to the West University site close to my home. It would be great to have a more convenient Houston site. I would also like to see more recycling going on at public functions. My personal garbage has gone down significantly since I recycle. I would be willing to pay a fee to increase the ability of the city to recycle. Sincerely, Terri Hudler-Hull
I love the fact that Houston is recycling, however, it could be broader. Mine gets picked up every other week and so on the weeks I have too much to hold on to I take it to the West University site close to my home. It would be great to have a more convenient Houston site. I would also like to see more recycling going on at public functions. My personal garbage has gone down significantly since I recycle. I would be willing to pay a fee to increase the ability of the city to recycle. Sincerely, Terri Hudler-Hull
# 1,068:
9:54 am PDT, Jul 3,
Joaquin Vargas, Texas
I lived in LA ten years ago and I had recycling bins provided by the city. That was ten years ago. I live in Houston and drive to Pearland off 518 to recycle my goods.
I lived in LA ten years ago and I had recycling bins provided by the city. That was ten years ago. I live in Houston and drive to Pearland off 518 to recycle my goods.
# 1,066:
9:22 am PDT, Jul 3,
Name not displayed, Texas
City council: This is a good thing not only for me as an individual, but I believe for the City as a whole. Houston has a reputation of not being very environmentally friendly and in the past, short-sighted in planning and decision making. Let's change that for the benefit of all. I see a lot of great improvements to the city in the past few years, and I think this will be a great addition to the list. We are all responsible to doing our part, and I believe we have the city council that is capable of seeing the absolute need of a better recycling program. When the City provides and encourages these services this will help support this change in culture that is desparately needed and is slowly already happening. Thank you so much for implementing the items in this petition.
City council: This is a good thing not only for me as an individual, but I believe for the City as a whole. Houston has a reputation of not being very environmentally friendly and in the past, short-sighted in planning and decision making. Let's change that for the benefit of all. I see a lot of great improvements to the city in the past few years, and I think this will be a great addition to the list. We are all responsible to doing our part, and I believe we have the city council that is capable of seeing the absolute need of a better recycling program. When the City provides and encourages these services this will help support this change in culture that is desparately needed and is slowly already happening. Thank you so much for implementing the items in this petition.
# 1,067:
9:21 am PDT, Jul 3,
Richard Covert, Texas
I started recycling over 17 years ago. It was convenient. The recycle bins were only about 2 blocks from my apartment and I could recycle my type 1, 2, 3 and 7 plastics, along with aluminum and tin cans and paper. Since that time the city's recycling program has slipped into reverse. The recycle bins were removed and then I had to travel 10 miles to get to a recycling center. When dropped my things off there I was treated as though I didn't belong there even though the center was on the City's recycle locations brochures. Since that time I now own a home and the situation is pretty much the same. I still have to drive some distance, adding more pollutants like particulates, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as I do this. The city will only accept type 1 and 2 plastics now and they must be narrow necked bottles. What's happening here! We're going in reverse not forward! Our recycle rate is 2% according to a New York Times article. San Francisco is doing 75%. We can do better. A big part of the problem is that people have to drive to drop off their recyclables so they don't do it. Instead I am horrified at what they throw away. The types of things thrown out run the gambit from computer monitors, containing lead, cadmium and mercury, to fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury. THIS STUFF SHOULD NOT BE GOING INTO A LAND FILL! So I propose we go to the next phase of recycling and require mandatory pickup of recycled materials from all of Houston's residential subdivisions and apartment complexes. Two buckets could be provided by the city. One is for trash and the other for recyclables with a fee placed on anything above 1 bucket a week for trash so that recycling is encouraged.
I started recycling over 17 years ago. It was convenient. The recycle bins were only about 2 blocks from my apartment and I could recycle my type 1, 2, 3 and 7 plastics, along with aluminum and tin cans and paper. Since that time the city's recycling program has slipped into reverse. The recycle bins were removed and then I had to travel 10 miles to get to a recycling center. When dropped my things off there I was treated as though I didn't belong there even though the center was on the City's recycle locations brochures. Since that time I now own a home and the situation is pretty much the same. I still have to drive some distance, adding more pollutants like particulates, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as I do this. The city will only accept type 1 and 2 plastics now and they must be narrow necked bottles. What's happening here! We're going in reverse not forward! Our recycle rate is 2% according to a New York Times article. San Francisco is doing 75%. We can do better. A big part of the problem is that people have to drive to drop off their recyclables so they don't do it. Instead I am horrified at what they throw away. The types of things thrown out run the gambit from computer monitors, containing lead, cadmium and mercury, to fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury. THIS STUFF SHOULD NOT BE GOING INTO A LAND FILL! So I propose we go to the next phase of recycling and require mandatory pickup of recycled materials from all of Houston's residential subdivisions and apartment complexes. Two buckets could be provided by the city. One is for trash and the other for recyclables with a fee placed on anything above 1 bucket a week for trash so that recycling is encouraged.
# 1,065:
9:11 am PDT, Jul 3,
Name not displayed, Texas
Recycling pays for itself in the future. without a vision we are like a dead fish in the water...if Houston wants to survive it has to break from old wasteful traditions before it is too late....if it is not too late already. we are late in recognizing global warming...peak oil...extremism...pollution...the list goes on and on...don't be a fool...act now.
Recycling pays for itself in the future. without a vision we are like a dead fish in the water...if Houston wants to survive it has to break from old wasteful traditions before it is too late....if it is not too late already. we are late in recognizing global warming...peak oil...extremism...pollution...the list goes on and on...don't be a fool...act now.
# 1,064:
8:45 am PDT, Jul 3,
Tom Wood, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,063:
8:40 am PDT, Jul 3,
Debbie McNulty, Texas
We'd like to have the green bins in our neighborhood.
We'd like to have the green bins in our neighborhood.
# 1,062:
8:20 am PDT, Jul 3,
Janet Buller, Texas
I'd like Houston to be a LEADER in recycling and show its commitment to the environment. I live outside of Houston, and struggle to find recycling here, but in a large city it should be much easier to find a place to recycle a bottle in a park than trash it. Let's teach our children to reduce our waste so we don't have more environmental problems in the future.
I'd like Houston to be a LEADER in recycling and show its commitment to the environment. I live outside of Houston, and struggle to find recycling here, but in a large city it should be much easier to find a place to recycle a bottle in a park than trash it. Let's teach our children to reduce our waste so we don't have more environmental problems in the future.
# 1,061:
8:17 am PDT, Jul 3,
Jan VanLiere, Texas
We have 3 Recycle bins and use all. It is a shame that I hear from others that the city has DISCONTINUED Recycling in other neighborhoods. In the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston is an abomination to the planet for not doing more. Shame on all of us, especially the policymakers.
We have 3 Recycle bins and use all. It is a shame that I hear from others that the city has DISCONTINUED Recycling in other neighborhoods. In the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston is an abomination to the planet for not doing more. Shame on all of us, especially the policymakers.
# 1,060:
8:13 am PDT, Jul 3,
Vincent Favreau, Texas
The recycling system is the heights is twice a month. I could use a once a week program. Right now I go every week to the local recycling center to dump glass and big carton boxes. I would pay 5-10$ a month to get ALL my recylcing picked up at the curb (glass included). We could use several bins so we can sort (paper, plastic, glass) and save the city money.
The recycling system is the heights is twice a month. I could use a once a week program. Right now I go every week to the local recycling center to dump glass and big carton boxes. I would pay 5-10$ a month to get ALL my recylcing picked up at the curb (glass included). We could use several bins so we can sort (paper, plastic, glass) and save the city money.
# 1,059:
8:11 am PDT, Jul 3,
John Thorne, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,058:
8:05 am PDT, Jul 3,
Name not displayed, Texas
thanks.
thanks.
# 1,057:
9:20 pm PDT, Jul 2,
Paul Lindstrom, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,056:
9:05 pm PDT, Jul 2,
Louis Williams, Texas
It's shameful that the nation's 4th largest city doesn't have an integrated recycling program. Houston should try improving its image from the bottom-up not from top-down. No matter how many mega-stadiums we build, no one will want to live here if the city stays stuck in the 19th century. Let's join the first-world people! Give us recycling!
It's shameful that the nation's 4th largest city doesn't have an integrated recycling program. Houston should try improving its image from the bottom-up not from top-down. No matter how many mega-stadiums we build, no one will want to live here if the city stays stuck in the 19th century. Let's join the first-world people! Give us recycling!
# 1,055:
6:10 am PDT, Jul 2,
Name not displayed, Texas
As one of the most populated cities in the USA, we need to be a shining example to other cities. It is embarassing that Houston is so behind in recycling. We could make a huge positive impact. And yes, I'd be willing to pay a small monthly amount of $10 or $15 to support the recycling efforts.
As one of the most populated cities in the USA, we need to be a shining example to other cities. It is embarassing that Houston is so behind in recycling. We could make a huge positive impact. And yes, I'd be willing to pay a small monthly amount of $10 or $15 to support the recycling efforts.
# 1,054:
7:04 am PDT, Jun 30,
Todd Bredbeck, Texas
We recycle as much as we can at the curb, and then take the rest over to the West University recycling center. When we go, there are always several other people and sometimes a line of cars waiting to recycle. Certainly with a little effort on the part of the city to raise the public's awareness Houston can do better.
We recycle as much as we can at the curb, and then take the rest over to the West University recycling center. When we go, there are always several other people and sometimes a line of cars waiting to recycle. Certainly with a little effort on the part of the city to raise the public's awareness Houston can do better.
# 1,053:
8:48 pm PDT, Jun 29,
Caroline D'Souza, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
# 1,052:
7:57 pm PDT, Jun 29,
Darnell Muhammad, Texas
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
[Put your personal comments here to go along with your signature. What is your experience with Houston's program? Are you satisfied with it? What changes do you want to see? Are you willing to pay some fee for a better system, and if so how much?
