Houston spends $5 million to supplement aging fleet

The city of Houston is spending $5 million to supplement its aging waste and recycling fleet in the midst of ongoing collection delays.

City council recently voted on the funding as residents citywide have been complaining for weeks of recycling collection delays, according to Click2Houston. The city is still recovering from 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, which damaged many recycling pickup trucks and washed away many homeowners’ garbage and recycling bins, according to Click2Houston, which have been factors in the delays. City council members also cite the skilled labor shortage as a factor in delayed collection, saying their solid waste management department is in need of new truck mechanics and drivers.

The city’s aging fleet, though, is playing a major role in the delay. Most of the city’s collection trucks are more than 15 years old, according to Houston Public Media, and have been used constantly over the years, especially in the aftermath of natural disaster cleanups.

Those factors, along with the uptick in waste over the holidays, have led to a backlog of trash and recycling as crews work overtime to catch up.

Jan. 15, the Houston City Council voted to put $5 million toward improving the situation. The city approved a contract with Big Truck Rental of Tampa, Florida, for $500,000. The company will provide five solid waste trucks to the city with an option to request additional vehicles as needed for a one year term. The units will be staffed with city personnel and augment collection services for either recycling or yard waste, depending on the needs.

The remaining $4.56 million will go toward a one-year contract with Texas Pride Disposal Solutions LLC, based in Hockley, Texas, to supplement recycling collection. The company will be picking up 10 daily recycling routes.

The city says the solid waste department is expected to receive 20 new automated collections vehicles by the end of February, another 12 in early summer and 26 in August. The 69 vehicles approved by council in early January are comprised of heavy trash, yard waste and depository equipment and are expected in late summer. By the end of the year, the city hopes to replace more than 150 pieces of equipment, according to Click2Houston.