Growing challenges
According to a news release, District C council member Abbie Kamin is partnering with Houston's Solid Waste Management Department to lead the program to help address the lack of recycling services available to residents in multifamily housing.
Environment Texas, a nonprofit organization focused on environmental advocacy in the state, released a report in 2021 showing that Houston only has a recycling rate of 19%, which is 15 points below the national average of 34.7%.
Before the launch of the new initiative, the city only provided recycling to single-family homes and a handful of multifamily complexes, despite the growing construction of multifamily units. For example, according to a second-quarter report by Colliers, a commercial real estate company in Houston, there were 9,321 new units underway as of July.
“The more trash we produce, the faster our landfills reach capacity," Kamin said. "We’re getting dangerously close to what will cost hundreds of millions of dollars if we don’t start reducing our waste."
The discussion around recycling started in 2021 with a budget amendment by Kamin. According to previous Community Impact reporting, the amendment required the city to begin the process to develop an ordinance that requires multifamily apartment buildings to give residents the option to recycle waste, with a caveat for the ordinance to be implemented by January 2024.
The one-year pilot program officially launched Oct. 1, 2025, with six properties participating in the initial rollout. However, officials with Kamin's office said the program remains open to any multifamily complex in the city of Houston that wants to participate, at no cost for the first year.
Program costs are covered by a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit that works to improve the United States recycling system, and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. The two entities cover all program expenses, including collection crews, recycling containers, education materials and related operational costs, according to Kamin's office.
How it works
Multifamily complexes interested in joining the program can contact the office of council member Abbie Kamin at [email protected].
After initial interest is discussed, the pilot program team schedules a site visit with property representatives to discuss bin placement. Jacob Mata, communication manager for Kamin's office, said bins are typically delivered to the property within three to four weeks.
