Houston To Improve Recycling
Last year, a trade magazine cited Houston as having the lowest recycling rate of the 30 most populous metropolitan areas in the country. Officials hope new programs and greater funding will improve rates this year, reports The Houston Chronicle.
The goal aims to boost Houston’s recycling rate from 2.6 percent to about 30 percent in one year. This would rank Houston’s rate higher than other large Texas cities, but still behind areas such as San Fransisco.
A key part of the effort is a single-stream recycling pilot program. Rather than sorting, participants will be able to put paper, aluminum, glass and all seven types of plastic together in one bin.
Waste department officials say rates are low because the recycling market is not as strong as it is in other cities. There is also plenty of extra land, making landfilling less expensive.
Want to help the recycling rates in your city improve? Find out all about your area’s programs with our Act Locally section.
