Storm cleanup will take time, says city of Houston

The Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has begun collecting storm debris this week at single-family homes in neighborhoods most affected by the Derecho Storm that hit May 16.

Several departments within the city’s emergency management operations first conducted damage assessment procedures May 20 to prepare to start debris removal operations.

“In order to safely expedite removal, all debris designated for collection should be placed at the curbside, at least 5 feet away from any obstructions and overhead obstacles,” the SWMD tells Houston residents.

Based on its assessments, the SWMD estimates approximately 1 million cubic yards of residential storm debris was generated from the "unprecedented" storm. Debris removal efforts are expected to last for two to three months.

Residents are being asked to separate debris into the six distinct categories: garbage, vegetative, construction and demolition, appliances, electronics, and household hazardous waste. Such separation efforts can help the city best find recycling markets for metals, concrete and wood in the mixed debris stream.

Much of the debris is likely to consist of downed trees, tree limbs, yard waste and other organic materials (the “vegetative” category) that can be diverted from landfills and prepared as mulch or processed to be compostable.