Houston is bracing for a clean-up of monumental proportions after the Derecho Storm's fierce winds battered the city last Thursday, generating an estimated one million cubic yards of debris. In a stride to bring some semblance of normality back to the storm-hit neighborhoods, the City of Houston's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) announced today that it has kicked off the first round of storm debris collection for single-family homes hit by the natural ferocity.
Throughout the weekend, various city departments have been neck-deep in assessing the damage, and the SWMD is now moving forward with debris removal operations, starting Monday, May 20. A report obtained by Houston Solid Waste Management emphasizes that, to expedite the process, all storm debris must be placed at the curbside, while ensuring it's a safe distance—at least five feet—from obstructions such as fire hydrants, mailboxes, and overhead wires.
The staggering amount of waste left in the wake of the storm means that the streets of Houston will be in the grip of garbage trucks and clean-up crews for the next two to three months. SWMD urges residents to avoid further complications by separating their storm debris into six distinct categories: Garbage, Vegetative, Construction and Demolition, Appliances, Electronics, and Household Hazardous Waste—a process dictated by the city's storm debris regulations document.
To streamline the mammoth task at hand, city dwellers affected by the storm are being encouraged to make light work for clean-up authorities by reporting debris removal needs to the 3-1-1 Call Center. Alternatively, they can visit the SWMD website or download the HTX Collects mobile app to keep abreast of collection schedules and updates.
