Houston Storm Recovery: Department of Solid Waste urges residents to prepare for three debris collection runs over the next 90 days

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Giant trucks with big mechanical arms are a welcome sight in The Heights, where Dave Nickerson did his best to pile the last batch of storm debris along the city right-of-way.

“We had to take everything out of here, put it out on the sidewalk, cut it up so they could take it,” said Nickerson, who has put his chainsaw to good use in recent weeks.

The City of Houston Solid Waste Department is working to give each neighborhood a first pass to pick up debris and is planning three passes over the next 90 days.

The ministry would like to remind citizens that workers cannot go onto private property to remove debris. They must be placed within the City of Houston right-of-way.

“I wish we could do it,” said Mark Wilfalk, solid waste director for the city of Houston. “But, liability issues and so on, we will only be able to pick up debris at the curb, so if you have debris generated on your site, it is very important that residents move that debris to the curb so that ‘they can collect them and move it to the trucks.

Near north Quitman, ABC13 saw Leslie Williams cleaning up limbs around her sister’s house.

“I’ll just clean things up and get them. I know where the city line is, where they can reach, and then clean them up and haul them away,” Williams said. “It’s a big job.”

Williams showed up at his sister’s house because she was upset that CenterPoint contractors cutting branches from the lines had left large tree trunks blocking her driveway.

Williams is more sympathetic. He knows the workers have worked very long hours and he doesn’t mind helping his sister.

“Look, I’m a hard worker. As horrible as it was, they did a good job. Same as the guys who come from everywhere else. Outdone. Great job,” he said.

CenterPoint Energy officials said while crews perform regular tree maintenance, they remove branches they cut.

However, they do not remove storm debris. Storm debris must be moved to the curb so crews from the City of Houston or Harris County workers can remove it.

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