WHY RELOCATE THE ONLY RECYCLING DROP-OFF WITHIN INNER LOOP TO ANY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD?

There's No Reason To Relocate Drop-Off To Spring St

Target:

Mayor Bill White and City Council Members of Houston

Sponsored by:

The Solid Waste Management Department is planning to relocate the current recycling drop-off containers at 3602 Center St to a new address in one of Houston's oldest neighborhoods known as the First Ward.

The proposed site is bounded by Martin Preferred Foods, Silver St, White St and the recently constructed MKT/SP Hike and Bike trail on Spring St. Although at quick glance much of the area may appear industrial, the First Ward has been undergoing tremendous growth after decades of neglect, with multi-million dollar residential developments popping up alongside independent galleries and historic bungalows.

Today it is a place in transition; however, the resurfacing of this diverse community is threatened by the city's Solid Waste Management proposal.

We the undersigned are concerned about the direct impact the proposed recycling center relocation to Spring Street will have on the First Ward community, the Hike and Bike trail and the traffic flow to the surrounding area, as this drop-off will be the only facility serving neighborhoods within Houston's Inner Loop.

Although the city department states that the relocation "would improve customer access as it is immediately off of I-10 and I-45, Houston Ave and Quitman St", we strongly disagree. Local residents have already witnessed the increasing pressure Sawyer St has from vehicles accessing Sawyer Heights Village and the adjacent Sawyer Heights Lofts. The anticipated traffic increase in relation to the recycling facility will result in further strain on Spring St - the main thoroughfare from Houston Ave to Sawyer St. The city is yet to provide a traffic study to support its claim that the effect of heavy vehicles and additional traffic to this area will be minimal.

The MKT/SP Hike and Bike trail along Spring St is part of a long evolving project that has taken seven years and $5.1 million of the city's commitment in connecting the Heights to Downtown destinations and other bikeways. Under current condition, the width of Spring St does not safely accommodate vehicles traveling in both directions with the Hike and Bike trail. Contrary to Solid Waste Management's belief that "the site... would be an enhancement to bike/ foot traffic," unpleasant odor, noise and visual impact [all evident from the current facility] will jeopardize the trail's longevity and the safety of the users.

On a more immediate scale these nuisances are serious concerns for the residents living in close proximity to the proposed site. In addition to open dumpsters, the presence of heavy vehicles will have a drastic impact on their quality of life.

Citing from statements made by the city of Aurora, Illinois about "large commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods:

Are out of place and unsightly.

Generate incompatible noise and exhaust.

Can be dangerous for neighborhood children at play.

Can hasten deterioration of public streets and drive approaches.

Detract from the desirability of a neighborhood.

Reduce adjacent property values and prevalent neighbors from having full enjoyment of their property.

[http://www.aurora-il.org/neighborhoodstandards/property_standards/commercial_vehicles.php]

These views are also shared by business owners and active housing developers. A drop-off facility on Spring St will affect investment in residential dwellings around the area thus retarding the momentum of its gentrification.

We acknowledge the city's effort in bring awareness to our communities about the importance of sustainable living. If the state of the current collection site is any indication, it is evident that the participation of recycling, like the gentrification of First ward, is growing at a steady pace. We ask the city council members and the department of Solid Waste Management to take our concerns seriously and reconsider the current address at Center St as it has proven accessible for residents of many other neighborhoods including those around Montrose, Washington Avenue and the Heights. However, if the city chooses to proceed with relocating drop-off containers to a new site, we strongly recommend using reclaimed brown-fields for this purpose instead of placing the facility within any growing residential neighborhoods.

We are here to work with the city in finding a responsible solution for the future. One of our suggestions in moving forward with recycling is to stop occupying valuable inner city properties with open dumpsters. Use the revenue to extend curbside pickup, and introduce 'attractive' recycling collectors in parks, schools, parking lots of grocery stores and civic spaces, etc, throughout the Inner Loop.

Recycling bins for public space in London

Recycling bins for public space in London

These collectors will spread the visibility of recycling, allowing people currently without access to curbside pickup to incorporate recycling drop-off into their routine before the automated program reaches their households. In addition to introducing recycling on a greater scope, the method will also reduce carbon emissions that stem from each individual trip between his origin and the drop-off site, bringing a cleaner future to Houston which we all like to be a part of.

We thank you for taking the time to share our concerns.

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We signed the "There's No Reason To Relocate Drop-Off To Spring St" petition!

# 37:

7:54 pm PDT, Jul 5, Name not displayed, Texas

# 36:

2:44 pm PDT, Jul 4, Lynn Barnes, Michigan

# 35:

3:26 pm PDT, Jul 3, Kathryn O'Brien, Texas

# 34:

5:01 pm PDT, Jul 2, Steve Dale, Australia

# 33:

2:09 pm PDT, Jul 2, Jeff Schneider, Texas
Bad idea. Why would you put this next to a bike trail? It is fine where it is and gets lots of use there. It is not in a residential area now and it in an industrial area. What a perfect spot. The best solution would be picking up more recyclables at the curb.

# 32:

2:06 pm PDT, Jul 2, Jack Fu, Texas
A recycling center in the First Ward would: 1) Increase traffic through our neighborhood. 2) Increase noise through our residential neighborhood. 3) Increase garbage in our neighborhood. Often times the materials meant to be recycled fly out of the bins and onto the streets.

I recycle but don't put this in my neighborhood.

# 31:

1:52 pm PDT, Jul 2, Richard Garfield, Texas

# 30:

10:57 am PDT, Jul 2, Joy Ann LeVelle, Texas
More traffic, more street people, more noise, more congestion. We moved here in Sept. 2006 and have seen tremendous growth in the amt. of townhouses being built, shacks torn down. Just look at the Target Center with all the new businesses going in. This is changing fast from an industrial area to a residential area.

Curbside recycling

# 29:

9:41 am PDT, Jul 2, John D. Lewis, Texas
Relocating the recycling center close to the Hike and Bike trail will not only raise maintenance costs on the trail (heavy trucks will have to cross it to reach the center), it will leave broken glass on the trail, as these dumpsters always leave a trail. Broken glass is anathema to bike tires, just as flat tires are anathema to bicycle commuters.

# 28:

8:56 am PDT, Jul 2, Firoz Jhaver, Texas
City does not pick up glass at my house. We recycle our glass and any extra material at the Center st. location which is very convenient for Heights and South Heights residents. Keep the Center street location!!

Pick up more items at the house

# 27:

8:01 am PDT, Jul 2, LUCY CAIRE, Texas
FIRST WARD IS AN HISTORICAL DISTRICT. LOCATING RECYCLE BINS IN COMMERICIAL PARKING LOTS WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO RECYCLE AND FURTHER ENHANCE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN LIVE IN THIS AREA AND HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC IS ALREADY HIGH.

# 26:

7:28 am PDT, Jul 2, Name not displayed, Texas

# 25:

7:03 am PDT, Jul 2, Shaun Nelson, Texas

# 24:

6:12 am PDT, Jul 2, Name not displayed, Texas
Endless lines of loud trucks, and throngs of homeless dragging recyclables up and down the street.

If the citizen is supplying the recycled goods, why not the city seperate the plastic, glass and paper? The citizen is already providing the material to recycle by being a consumer. The city is asking the citizen be consumer, laborer and then we pay taxes on top of it for the city to pick up?

# 23:

5:14 am PDT, Jul 2, Woody Speer, Texas
I don't see where heavy truck traffic crossing a bike path would enhance the neighborhood. Please use the green recyling carts like you do in the Myerland neighborhood

# 21:

6:00 pm PDT, Jul 1, Allen & Patty Watson, Texas
Moving the recycle drop off center farther east disenfranchises the west end area and others in the Heights. This is extremely close to the 6th Ward which was just designated as a historical area. The current location does not pose a threat to development as several townhomes were constructed immediately adjacent to the site with little or no impact to sales. Unless Admiral or Star Pizza is complaining, why move it?

Continuing picking up recycling in every neighborhood.

# 20:

5:14 pm PDT, Jul 1, Name not displayed, Texas
Unlikely to take recyclables to a less convenient location

Keep the drop-off at its current location, at least until the area is better served with automated curbside pick-up.

# 19:

3:49 pm PDT, Jul 1, Elliott Lowe, Texas
WASTE MILLIONS IN TAX MONEY ALREADY SPENT ON HIKE/BIKE TRAIL; increase traffic in the neighborhood

Ask stores with huge, unused parking lots to allocate a couple spaces for recycling bins. Once that is up and running, the Center St. location can be sold to fund additional curbside pick-up.

# 18:

1:52 pm PDT, Jul 1, Micaela Gutierrez, Texas

# 17:

1:09 pm PDT, Jul 1, Gerald Wiesner, Texas

# 16:

12:53 pm PDT, Jul 1, Louis Baez, Texas
I have been a resident of the First Ward for four years & my home is directly accross the street from the proposed relocation. I have three children (8,7 & 18mnts) and married; my wife grew up in that home, it used to belong to my wifes' grandmother until her passing. The home has stood ground since the 1920's (a lifetime in Houston years). In the short four years since I have lived here, I have seen an incredible turn around in the ammenities provided (shopping, restaurants etc.), new sidewalks, a new bike/hike trail and a wave of families move into the area. All of these changes have injected a much needed momentum to transition the neighborhood from it's persived 'industrial' status to more of a residential (this momentum has also elevated the tax base in the area which prompted most of the areas factories to clese and relocate to more industry-friendly areas in town). The Center Street recycling center is in a very efficient location, centralized to areas that use it the most (First & Sixth wards, Heights, Montrose & along Washington corridor). The current location should either be revilatized and made to be friendlier in apperance or the city should expand their curb-side recycling service to get up to speed with how other cities address & handle recycling. The city of Houston should never follow, but be the leader in certain areas, we are the space city full of momentous innovation that should be shared with the Nation. I emplore the city council to reconsider and take this opportunity to hear the residents that are opposed to the move and look into the future of recycling.

Expand its curb side service to all of the city. We can employ the "blue bins" used in Dallas and in some other cities around the country. These blue bins are indentical to the black ones used for trash, so a regular trash truck can be used to pick up the recyclables. You, as a user of the blue bins, would not have to separate the recyclables (i.e. paper here, plastics here & cans here), all would go into the blue bin. Staff can be employed to separate the recyclables, drive the trucks etc. thus employing folks, especially now that jobs are much needed.

# 15:

12:47 pm PDT, Jul 1, Julie Villaescusa, Texas
Don't move the recycling center. It seems the only beneficiary of the move is the entity that wants to buy the land where the current recycling center is located. The city claims it will use 100% of the money from the land sale to create the new (same sized) center.

# 14:

11:53 am PDT, Jul 1, Name not displayed, Texas
The proposed area for the relocation of recycling has had years of neglect and abuse. Finally, this area is going through a rejuvenation. To put the recycling spot in the midst of this a shame. One has to only look at the current site to see what would happen to the new facility. I cart my glass to the Center St. location because the city says it is too costly to recycle. Okay, fine, I will accept that. Moving the current location because the city wants to sell the land (for money), ignoring citizens wishes (because of money), making it more difficult to convince people to recycle, tells me one important fact about the currect administrtation. They talk about Houston going green,they talk about the importance of recycling but they still put the dollar first.

Houston could make recycling better by having more centers set up in Houston that took all kinds of stuff. I don't want to drive for 30 or minutes to find a place that recycles old paint, computers, moitors, fax machines, lawn mowers, etc.

# 13:

8:32 am PDT, Jul 1, Brett Forward, Texas
It moves further away from us and now we are suppose to wait for 2 trains to pass to go recycle.

Find another place where we won't have to to wait for trains or leave it there.

# 12:

7:59 am PDT, Jul 1, Kimberly Regalado, Texas
If its moved this facility will be relocated right across from me. I don't want a recycling center across from my home, the flying trash, the smell, more traffic or the noise. Not to mention this facility will have property values in the 1st Ward stagnant or decline. Developers have already mentioned this is not an amenity to the new projects in the area. It will flat out deter new developments. It's unsightly and it has no community support. Placing the facility there will add more traffic to the already congestion area due to folks wanting to go to the new retail centers. Also may deter people from recycling when they have to think about dealing/waiting for TWO approaching trains. FIRST WARD IS RESIDENTIAL NOT INDUSTRIAL!!!

The City of Houston needs to give this more thought to what they are asking of First Ward and how it will affect this neighborhood in a renaissance. The streets are already congested and we don't have enough road or traffic controls to help with the added travelers going to retail or recycling center. Leave the recycling center where its at or move it to a true industrial area. Where ever they move it CoH needs to provide sufficient planning to this facility because putting it adjacent to a hike & bike trail... that is a disaster waiting to happen.

# 11:

6:06 am PDT, Jul 1, David N Moore, Connecticut

# 10:

3:36 am PDT, Jul 1, Steve Klein, Virginia

# 5:

9:42 pm PDT, Jun 30, Pam Boland, Georgia

# 4:

7:13 pm PDT, Jun 30, Judy Weng, Texas

# 3:

1:56 pm PDT, Jun 30, Louis Reginato Jr, Virginia

# 1:

12:59 pm PDT, Jun 30, Name not displayed, Illinois

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