What are the most important elements of a Zero Waste Plan for Houston?
Most major cities have enacted long-term plans to reduce up to 90% of waste from landfills and incinerators. Houston is in the process of creating a similar plan after years of encouragement from community leaders. The purpose of this form is to collect public opinion from individuals and organizations regarding what policies and programs should be included in a long-term waste reduction plan in Houston. Many of these elements can be found on the U.S. EPA's "Transforming Waste" tool here: https://www.epa.gov/transforming-waste-tool/managing-and-transforming-waste-streams-tool
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A high diversion or "Zero Waste" goal. Adopt a goal and plan for reaching 60-90% of waste from landfills and incinerators by a specific year through reduce and reuse as well as recycling and composting.
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Recycling for apartments and commercial buildings. The City of Houston only collects close to 10% of the waste generated in the city limits. Policies and programs around commercially collected waste would address the vast majority of waste generated in Houston.
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Composting for organic discards. This could include backyard composting training and incentives, curbside compost collection and/or neighborhood composting.
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Re-use, repair, materials exchange and food donation. The city would support these programs whether offered privately, publicly or through partnerships in order to foster sustainable materials management.
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Lead by example through green procurement, Zero Waste public events and spaces. The city would prioritize waste reduction and sustainability in its contracts with private firms.
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Implement a garbage fee for residential solid waste customers serviced by the City, and include a pay rate structure that incentivizes recycling and/or composting and waste reduction.
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Product and packaging bans or fees on disposable items. Several cities in Texas and around the world have banned or put fees on polluting products such as plastic bags, water bottles or styrofoam.
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Outreach and education. Provide technical assistance, best practices and media campaigns and social marketing to multi-family, office, corporation, neighborhood, and school networks to promote waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.
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New commercial construction especially for apartments includes space for a recycling dumpster.
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Clean up and prevent illegal dumping. Increase enforcement and funds to address trash sites that threaten public health and quality of life.
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Recognition & Certification programs to increase recycling and/or composting participation through programs similar to our local Green Office Challenge, Go Green Communities or national recognition/certification programs.
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Establish more drop-offs especially in underserved areas for Hard-to-Recycle materials such as BOPA (batteries, oil, paint and anti-freeze), household hazardous waste and recyclables.
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Construction & Demolition recovery. Develop policies that divert C&D waste from landfills and programs for reclamation and recovery of materials.
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Product-redesign advocacy and promotion. Advocate for producer responsibility legislation such as bottle bill and TakeBack laws by adopting local resolutions and/or participating in Product Stewardship programs. Promote alternatives to disposable products. Encourage retailers to take back toxic or difficult to recycle items that are not accepted in city programs.
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Creation of a Recycling Market Development Zone to encourage manufacturers to use recycled materials or other economic development initiatives in the recycling and reuse industries.
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Greenhouse gas emission reduction goals related to recycling, composting and waste reduction as well as transportation and processing to address air quality and climate impacts.
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Commitment to transparency and public input especially from the most impacted stakeholders, including communities where waste and recycling projects are being considered.
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Commitment to cost efficiency and equity so that public monies are effectively managed and undue burdens do not negatively impact low-income communities.
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Promoting buying fresh, community gardens and school gardens and ensuring all neighborhoods have access to healthy, fresh food to avoid excess packaging, transportation and food waste.
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Collect and report data on recycling, reuse, composting and waste generation rates and volume city-wide in public and private sectors.
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Cleanup, waste reduction and recycling plans for flooding and natural disaster debris.
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Other suggestions or comments.
If there is anything you don't see in this survey that you think should be included in Houston's Zero Waste Plan, please include it here!
Please include your name, as well as your organization and title if applicable.
We plan to submit these responses to Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Solid Waste Management Department and City Council members. If you are authorized to submit this survey on behalf of an organization, please include your organization and your title.
Name (and Organization) *
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