HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The City of Houston is delaying a new system designed to take the guesswork out of heavy trash pickup.
The system was supposed to roll out this week, as neighbors continue to tell ABC13 they’re dealing with missed pickups.
Paul Colby likes to play the guitar in his free time on the steps of the front door of his home in East Montrose. Colby, who calls himself a performing artist, says he now has to deal with an eyesore while enjoying one of his favorite hobbies.
“It’s still sitting here, of course,” Colby said.
He says he put out more than a dozen bags of debris from his yard that were supposed to be picked up by city crews on Wednesday during regular pickup. When it wasn’t collected, he reported it.
“If I call and say, ‘The trash is out there, will it be picked up?’ then I expect that to happen,” Colby said.
Earlier this week, the city said it was putting the brakes on its new heavy trash pickup system. Under the plan, residents would be able to schedule pickup appointments that are supposed to be fulfilled within five working days.
A spokesperson with the city’s Solid Waste department told ABC13: “Our priority is ensuring all operational components are fully in place before implementing significant changes. This includes enhancements to current operations and finalizing infrastructure, technology, and staffing.”
The delay is frustrating Southeast Houston residents like Stephen, who told Eyewitness News he’s been waiting for a broken door and a pile of rugs outside his home to be collected.
“It’s annoying to us. We want action,” Stephen said.
Solid Waste officials also say they are about a week and a half behind schedule on heavy trash collection. City data shows that over the last four weeks, there have been a little more than 2,600 reports of missed heavy trash pickups.
Solid Waste has not provided an official timeline on when the new system will be ready. But residents say they are eager to see a change so heavy trash stops piling up.
“Go for it. Figure it out. Get the kinks out of it and let’s get it going,” Colby said.
To view the data on the calls, visit this link.
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