Mayor Whitmire, City Council expand yard waste bag options for Houston

Christmas trees dropped off to be recycled are mixed with other tree debris at Sommermeyer Neighborhood Depository on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 in Houston. Christmas tree drop-off recycling locations are located throughout Houston. The final day for drop offs is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Recycling is also available for live Christmas trees through the city's yard waste curbside collection program.

Houston residents are no longer required to use bags with the city’s seal for yard waste after the City Council approved the Solid Waste Management Department's plan to expand the set-out options for the curbside yard waste collection program.

People now have the option to use any 100% biodegradable bag meeting the American Society for Testing and Materials D6400 or EN 13432 specifications, according to a news release. The code of ordinances previously required residents to use city-approved biodegradable bags that featured city seals.

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The program updates are meant to improve flexibility and convenience for residents participating in the curbside yard waste collection program, according to officials.

"These programmatic enhancements are a direct reflection of recommendations received from a variety of residents and civic groups who support the continued growth of our operations," Mark Wilfalk, Solid Waste Management Department director, said in a statement.

Residents can also place the yard waste in personal reusable refuse containers or tie and bundle small logs in 4-foot lengths. The yard waste can't exceed 50 pounds.

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Eligible households can participate in the yard waste collection program by having contents at least 3 feet away from their regular trash bins on the same days as scheduled garbage collection.

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Service personnel will not collect curbside yard waste mixed with trash, paper, plastic or any other waste.