Houston appoints new solid waste department director

Houston City Council has voted to appoint Larius Hassan as the official director of the city’s Solid Waste Management Department following a “tumultuous” report about the department presented to the council, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Hassan has served as the department’s interim leader since March, following the resignation of the former director. The department has faced criticism from both the public and its employees, and was described by Major John Whitmire as “one of the most dysfunctional departments in the city.”

Hassan's confirmation comes a week after he presented a report that found the director's offices haven't been working 40-hour workweeks, and trucks continue to break down. According to the report, an average of 30 trucks are down each day, and another 20 break down while they're out on routes.

The report also referred to possible abuse of city funds used on travel, golf and entertainment events. Two employees have had their cards revoked. 

Complaints from residents also have soared. In June, 311 logged more than 8,000 missed recycling pickups and over 3,000 missed garbage pickups, triple the volume reported in March.

Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum said the department’s failures are symptomatic of “chronic neglect.”

"I don't think it's a secret in this city that our solid waste department is underfunded," Tatum said. "Regardless of who sits in that position, if it's underfunded, it's going to be a challenge."

The city's 2025-26 budget calls for a 2 percent increase in Solid Waste Management from last year, with a $1.8 million increase, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Under Hassan's interim leadership, the department has made initial reforms: enforcing a standardized 40-hour workweek, coordinating fleet logistics with a dedicated employee and updating driver routes to better use resources. He also oversaw a 10 percent staff reduction through the mayor's voluntary retirement program, which resulted in cost savings.

The department awaits the public release of a third-party audit by Burns & McDonnell Engineering, commissioned in May 2024, to identify systemic inefficiencies and recommend solutions.