A call to action for the local government of Houston to work together with Neighborhood Associations to further activate curbside recycling programs in the city of Houston and greater surrounding suburban areas.

Recycling products such as plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminum cans, and more decreases the carbon footprint that humans leave behind. Landfills continue to be filled higher day by day and by the year 2100 it is estimated that the global population will be producing three times as much waste as we are now.

Read more about the future of waste production and landfills.

Recycling not only decreases the growth of landfills that take thousands to millions of years (depending on the item) to degrade back to the earth, it also makes it much easier to produce these same items of glass bottles, aluminum cans, etc. The energy consumption that it takes to create items from recycled materials can be up to 95% less energy used! That means 5% of the original energy can be taken to create a new product due to using a recycled item. That not only conserves resources, but also saves future monetary expenditure.

Further information on the importance of recycling.

Recycling can also help prevent more waste items and carbon gases from flowing into the seas, air, and natural earth where ecosystems are working to thrive and fighting to maintain balance.

Many people work 9 to 5 jobs or have other restrictive schedules with families they would like to spend their time off with. When it comes to driving to a recycling center in the Houston area that may be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour away, this can be the last thing on someone’s to-do list, even if they would like to recycle.

Curbside recycling is a great option, providing households with the ability to easily recycle. It can give each home a recycling bin, neighborhood recycling station, or other option that is immediately accessible. Curbside recycling is currently an option for some neighborhoods in the Houston and surrounding areas, but not for all. It depends on the decision of each neighborhood's Homeowner Association involved, I discovered after calling my neighborhood's Waste Management company.

Curbside recycling also has the potential to create more jobs that will bring money back to the people that the program is assisting. From drivers, sorters, mechanics, to managers, a larger curbside recycling program will need more employees to fill positions.

Potential job positions from curbside recycling.

After speaking with many people about curbside recycling, I have learned that College Station recently adopted a thorough curbside recycling program for which the residents did not have to pay out of pocket to initiate. I believe it is possible to get a widespread recycling movement in action.

Please help the community make caring for the earth an easier choice by calling on each Neighborhood Association to choose Yes to recycling.

Thank you for your consideration and care,

Amanda Erp