October 20, 2021 -- Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a new composting pilot program today aimed at educating Houstonians on the benefits of composting and diverting food waste from landfills.
The pilot program was developed collaboratively between the City’s Solid Waste Management Department and the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability, with support from City Council Members Sallie Alcorn, Abbie Kamin, Robert Gallegos, and Tarsha Jackson.
“Houston residents, businesses, and institutions generate approximately 6.2 million tons of municipal solid waste per year,” said Mayor Turner. “Expanding composting opportunities in Houston aligns with the city’s Climate Action Plan, Resilient Houston, and the Solid Waste Department’s draft long-range plan. Whether it’s in our homes or our farms, composting helps to reduce organic wastes, which in return, helps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.”
The six-week program will have once-a-week composting drop-off available at three pilot locations: The Historic Heights Fire Station, Houston Botanic Garden, and Kashmere Multi-Service Center.
The pilot program will also allow the city to gather data on both community interest as well as on organics diversion. The program allows for a significant amount of organic items to be composted, including fruit and vegetable waste, paper towels, and more. A full list of items, as well as additional information about the program, is available at houstontx.gov/solidwaste/compost/.
Zero Waste Houston and Moonshot Composting were selected as vendors for the program and will provide collection services at the drop-off locations. Both vendors have generously donated their services at no cost to the city. Residents can drop off their weekly compost at the following locations and times.
Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center - 4802 Lockwood Dr, Houston, TX 77026
- Open 6 Saturdays from October 23rd to November 27th
- Dropoff open from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
The Historic Heights Fire Station - 107 W 12th St, Houston, TX 77008
- Open 6 Wednesdays from October 20th to November 24th
- 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Houston Botanic Garden - 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017
- Open 6 Saturdays from October 23rd to November 27th
- Dropoff available 9 a.m. -11 a.m.
About the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability
The Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability is responsible for implementing the Resilient Houston Plan and the Houston Climate Action Plan (CAP). The plans provide a clear framework to foster the growth of a Houston that is both a healthy place to live, as well as an equitable, inclusive, and affordable city that leads in climate mitigation and adaptation and offers a transformative economy that builds forward. To learn more about the CAP or Resilient Houston, visit www.greenhoustontx.gov.
About the Solid Waste Management Department
The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.