Houston tackles heavy trash backlog using leftover disaster funds and an outside contractor. The city aims to clear streets and avoid future delays.

HOUSTON — After months of growing piles of heavy trash lining streets across Houston, city officials have launched a new cleanup effort using leftover disaster funds and an outside contractor, Mayor John Whitmire said Tuesday.

“I live in Houston. I see it. I witness it and it’s unacceptable, so it’s a priority,” Whitmire said.

The mayor acknowledged delays in heavy trash pickup in recent months, saying most neighborhoods have experienced backups because the city lacked sufficient resources.

Mayor Whitmire said Houston’s Public Works Director approached him last week with a proposal to use remaining funds from cleanup efforts following the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl. Whitmire approved the request.

“He approached me last week and said, ‘Can we use some of the derecho hurricane money and barrel contract and debris pickup? Can we use that for heavy trash?’ And I said, ‘Go for it,’” Whitmire said.

The city will spend about $1.2 million in leftover disaster money to hire AshBritt, the contractor that assisted Houston’s storm cleanup earlier this year. Crews began heavy trash removal Tuesday on the southwest side of the city. 

Whitmire emphasized that preventing future backlogs will require cooperation from residents especially when it comes to understanding what qualifies as heavy trash.

Heavy trash typically includes large tree limbs and similar debris. But items such as fencing, building materials, drywall and discarded household goods are considered commercial or construction waste, which the city does not collect through regular heavy trash service.

“You can’t have a rent house and decide you’re changing renters and take all their belongings and put them out on the sidewalk,” Whitmire said. “We’re not equipped to take a house full of household goods and furniture to the dump. That is a moving operation.”

Cleanup efforts will continue in the coming weeks as the city works to eliminate the existing backlog.

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