Thanks to a clean-up program being conducted by the city of Houston, residents within city limits will have the chance to get rid of large unwanted household items free from Monday, April 25, through Thursday, April 28.
On their normal trash pick-up days, city residents may at no cost also put at the side of the road items like carpet, appliances, furniture, old televisions and construction materials (like sheet rock) for pick up by city workers.
Unacceptable items include paint cans, tires and yard waste.
There is no limit to the amount or number of acceptable items each resident may dispose of, but items will only be taken from each address on normal trash days.
Only city residents may participate; nonresidents trying to take advantage of the situation will be subject to citation.
The pick up program precedes an increase in focus on the city’s nuisance ordinance. Houston Police Chief Jim McNiell said his department will begin targeting noncompliant homes and properties on May 1.
“This is an opportunity to dispose of things that are sometimes hard to dispose of,” McNiell said. “At the same time, it’s an opportunity for the city to address several places that have old appliances and other things that create an eyesore in the community perhaps sitting under carports or on the side of a house.
“And we do frequently get complaints about this kind of thing.”
Property owners not in compliance with the ordinance will first be notified by letter. Continued violation could lead to further action.
“They’ll be given time to clean things up,” McNiell said. “But if they don’t, enforcement action will be taken. They could be cited and go before a judge, or we may even end up going in and cleaning it up for them. But the bottom line is, it will have to be cleaned up and the responsibility will fall back on the homeowner or renter.”
Tree limbs and branches left curbside will not be picked up during this time period, but will be taken away later as part of the city’s normal service.
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