Recycling in Pearland

It is hard to believe that Hurricane Ike blew through Pearland almost 3 weeks ago. I think our community is rebounding and rebuilding very nicely. I hope that those of you that suffered major damage to your home are able to return to some form of normalcy.

Curbside recycling resumed for Pearland citizens the week of September 22; the Stella Roberts Recycling Center has been open for regular business since September 17. The Center has had phone problems ever since the storm, so if you have questions about recycling at the Center please call the Keep Pearland Beautiful office at 281-652-1659.

It is more important now than ever that we all do our part to “Go Green” by recycling. It is estimated that Pearland will be sending over 200,000 cubic yards of Hurricane Ike debris to area landfills. Most of the green waste will not be recycled or composted; there is simply too much material for our waste hauler, Waste Management to pick-up and send to commercial composting facilities.

So if you haven’t been recycling curbside, now is a great time to start. Our last set-out count for curbside recycling showed only about 35% of Pearland residents taking advantage of our program. If you don’t have a bin, contact Utility Billing at 281-652-1603 and make arrangements to pick-up a bin. Bins are only available to citizens living inside the city limits of Pearland. Be aware that many portions of Silverlake are not inside the city limits. If you are not sure, check your water bill. If you get a water bill from your MUD for both water and garbage pick-up you probably are not in the city limits. Citizens in the Silverlake area need to contact Waste Management directly for a recycling bin; Waste Management’s number is 713-686-6666.

What Can We Recycle? Curbside pickup of recyclable materials is provided to Pearland residents once a week. Items are co-mingled (you do not have to separate) in one bin, which should be placed curbside by 7a.m. on your collection day. All caps and rings should be removed to assure that materials will be accepted at the market. Paper labels do not have to be removed. To educate home-owners on the recyclable materials accepted, any contaminants or non-recyclables will be left in the recycling bin at the curb.

Items accepted for recycling are:
Newspapers – No phone books, mail, magazines or other papers, please.
Glass Bottles and Jars – All colors can be mixed together. No mirrors, windows, ceramics, cookware, etc.
Aluminum and Steel Cans – Rinsed, no need to remove ends or labels. Steel lids from glass bottles and jars are recyclable, too. No scrap metal.
Plastic – Clear or translucent plastic milk and water jugs and clear plastic soda bottles may be recycled. Look for the chasing arrows recycling symbol with #1 or #2 in the center. Colored plastics have recently been added to the list of recyclable items. Examples of acceptable colored plastics would be detergent, shampoo and lotion bottles.

Recycling is one of the easiest ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. Even if we don’t agree about the cause of global warming, I think we call all agree that land is a finite substance. No one wants a landfill in their back yard; ask the folks in Shadow Creek Ranch about the Blue Ridge Landfill and efforts to expand its permits with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Would you want a 17 story pile of garbage in your neighborhood?

TCEQ estimates that almost 50% of the material that is sent to the landfill is recyclable. If you are already an avid recycler, please encourage your neighbors and friends to recycle. Clip out this article and give to that those folks; show them how easy it is!

Questions may be sent to cowles@keeppearlandbeautiful.org or call the offices of Keep Pearland Beautiful at 281-652-1659.

Trees for Pearland Tree Guide

Now available in the Keep Pearland Beautiful office is the Trees for Pearland tree guide. The printing of this book was made possible in part by a generous grant from First Choice Power Fund, a division of PNM Resource Foundation. A special thanks to our professional Staff Forester I, Dallas Singleton, of the Texas Forest Service. With his input, Keep Pearland Beautiful is proud to offer the City of Pearland Tree Guide for all of our citizens to enjoy. Come by the offices of Keep Pearland Beautiful or check the information rack at City Hall to receive your copy of the tree guide.

Comments or questions may be sent to cowles@keeppearlandbeautiful.org or call the offices of Keep Pearland Beautiful at 281-652-1659.