By Elsa Maxey
The new solid waste and recycling carts should have been delivered to Sugar Land residents by now. City spokesperson Doug Adolph said all residents were to have received the two carts the same day and their distribution was to have been completed Tuesday. According to city data, as of October 28 about 9,700 were still pending delivery.
In the meantime, look for a magnet to come in the mail. It will have service days and the holiday schedule, also posted on the city’s website, and sent to homeowner associations.
Didn’t get the carts you wanted?
Don’t swap them, advises the city. “Carts are assigned to each home by means of a serial number,” said Adolph. But, if you’ve already swapped one or both with neighbors, “contact Republic Services,” he said, “and provide the old and new serial number.”
Residents receiving the wrong size cart, only one cart, or desiring to change cart size may do so, also by contacting the city’s solid waste service contractor.
Residents are encouraged to starting using the carts now, although the new automated collection of garbage and recycling, green waste recycling and bulky waste program begins next month. On December 5, Sugar Land residents must use the carts for garbage and recycling collection. All items are to be placed inside the carts, and those outside the carts will not be collected.
So what does one do with the old garbage container?
Adolph said the “old garbage cans can be utilized for the green waste collection,” which also begins December 5. Grass clippings, leaves and other items can be placed in that container and then be put out for collection on the scheduled green waste day. For those not wanting to keep their former trash container, if “it is made from a recyclable plastic, they can place it in their recycle cart,” said Adolph. But, he said that if the container is not recyclable, it can be placed on the curb for collection before December 5. After that day, those garbage containers can only be placed for collection on the designated bulky waste day.
What about the blue recycling bin?
Place the blue bin at the curb by 7 a.m., and it will be picked up the first two weeks of December on the scheduled recycle day.
There’s a program guide with FAQs on the city’s website that was also reportedly provided at the time of cart delivery. Republic Services may be contacted at 713-726-7307.