[Resilience Committee on May 7, 2026.]
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EVERYONE TODAY, UH, THURSDAY, MAY 7TH, ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER.STARTED MY MORNING OFF AT A PRAYER BREAKFAST, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.
UH, I AM TWILA CARTER, CHAIR OF THE RESILIENCE COMMITTEE.
UM, I WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, COUNCIL OFFICES REPRESENTED TODAY.
WE'VE GOT STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS ALCORN, UM, PECK, CASTEX TATUM, THOMAS RAMIREZ, JACKSON, AND CAYMAN.
UM, TODAY, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CERTAINLY, UH, UH, WELCOME OUR, UH, PARTNERS IN SOLID WASTE, FCC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TOUR THE FACILITY A WHILE BACK, AND THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE A GREAT PRESENTER TO TALK TO US ABOUT RECYCLING, AND SPECIFICALLY AS RELATES TO CONTAMINATION.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO GO OUT AND TAKE A, A TOUR OF THAT FACILITY.
SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME, UM, ON BEHALF OF FCC ENVIRONMENTAL, ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, VP OF ENGINEERING AND POST COLLECTIONS, AND CESAR GARCIA, THE GENERAL MANAGER.
Y'ALL SURE YOU DON'T WANNA SIT DOWN? YOU WANNA STOOL? NO, WE'RE GOOD TO STAND.
I BET YOU DO A LOT OF STANDING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.
I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES, SOME OF Y'ALL TO OUR FACILITY, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME BY AND, UH, AND TOUR OUR FACILITY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND EVERYONE ELSE.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CESAR GARCIA.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER AT FCC HOUSTON MURPH.
WITH ME AGAIN, IT'S, AND ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, OUR, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING AND POST COLLECTION BUSINESSES FOR FCC.
SO, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A FEW, UH, PRESSING CHALLENGES THAT I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, UH, HOUSTON RECYCLING PROGRAM, THE CONTAMINATION AND THE RECYCLING STREAM.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHAT'S CAUSING IT AND BETTER, WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I DO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF FCC AND WHO WE ARE.
FCC HAS BEEN PROVIDING, UH, WASTE MANAGE WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES SINCE 1911.
OUR FIRST FACILITY WAS OPEN IN 1964, AND AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE OVER 200 RECYCLING OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE.
WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 2014, STARTING WITH OUR BIOSOLIDS CONTRACT, AND NOW WE'VE BEEN PROCESSING HOUSTONIANS RECYCLABLES SINCE 2019, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
WE'RE PROUD OF SERVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER UNDER THIS CONTRACT.
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FACILITIES OPERATIONS, WE RECEIVED THE NATIONAL AND WASTE RECYCLING ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR THE BEST RECYCLING FACILITY IN NORTH AMERICA.
A BIG PART OF IT WAS DUE TO HAVING STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CONTINUED TO INVEST IN.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE CONTRACT, IT'S A, IT'S A 15 YEAR TERM.
IN THE CONTRACT, WE DO ACCEPT CARDBOARD, PAPER, PLASTICS, METALS, AND EVEN GLASS, SOMETHING THAT WASN'T RECYCLED, UH, BEFORE OUR CONTRACT.
WHILE THE CONTRACT ALLOWS UP TO 25% CONTAMINATION, UH, HOUSTON'S ACTUAL RATE IS CLOSER TO 40%.
UH, NT CONTAMINANTS, I WOULD SAY WOULD BE ELECTRONICS, STYROFOAM, TANGLES AND HOSES.
UH, AS WELL AS WIRES, TEXTILES, BACK RECYCLABLES AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
UM, A FEW EXAMPLES OF THESE, UH, TANGLES WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE HEAVY DUTY, UH, RATCHET STRAPS, SOMETHING THAT CAN POTENTIALLY DAMAGE OUR EQUIPMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PHOTO.
AND OF COURSE, UM, CAUSING US TO SHUT DOWN.
UM, ASIDE FROM THAT, WE ALSO HAVE A CONTAMINANTS THAT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IN THE RECYCLING BIN, WHICH ARE BATTERIES, LITHO MOUNT BATTERIES, AND, UH, PROPANE TANKS, WHICH OF COURSE, THEY'RE EXPLOSIVES.
UM, HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A FIRE WE ACTUALLY HAD RIGHT IN OUR TIPPING FLOOR WHERE WE HAVE ALL OF THE MATERIALS, UH, COMBINED.
A LOT OF IT IS FIBER, PAPER AND CARDBOARD.
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YOU WOULD THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UM, THAT'S JUST FUEL TO THE FIRE.UH, ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY GIVES US A PROBLEM WOULD BE SOMETHING EASY LIKE TARPS.
THESE CAUSE, UH, MAJOR PROBLEMS. TANGLES CAN BREAK THE MOTORS, BELTS, BATTERIES IN THE PROPANE CANS THAT I MENTIONED FREQUENTLY CAUSE FIRES AND SIMPLE ITEMS LIKE THESE, UM, THIS TARP AND THIS, UH, METAL, I WOULD SAY METAL CABLES CAN SHUT DOWN THE EQUIPMENT FOR A FEW HOURS.
EVERY CONTAMINATION EVENT, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE, A JAM, OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE MEANS DOWNTIME.
A DOWNTIME MEANS HIGHER OPERATION, COST DELAYS IN PROCESSING, AND ULTIMATELY A DIRECT FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE FACILITY.
WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO ANDREA AND SHE'LL WALK US THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL SIDE OF THE PROBLEM AND SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
AS CESAR EXPLAINED EARLIER, THE CONTAMINATION RATE ON THE CITY RECYCLABLES IS 42% ACCORDING TO THE LAST AUDIT THAT WE DID IN APRIL 13TH.
TO PUT SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 30%.
WHEN FCC BID ON THIS CONTRACT, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CITY SHOWED THAT THE CONTAMINATION WAS LOWER THAN 25%.
THE CONTRACT CONTEMPLATED THAT IF THE MATERIAL COMES TO THE FACILITY WITH A HIGHER CONTAMINATION RATE OF 25%, WE COULD REJECT IT.
THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS HIGH CONTAMINATION IN OUR DAILY OPERATIONS IS HIGH.
AS CSAR WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE HIGHER PROCESSING COSTS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OUR SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THIS MATERIAL.
SO INSTEAD OF BEING PROCESSING AT 30 TONS PER HOUR AS IT WAS DESIGNED, THE FACILITY, WE HAVE TO PROCESS 25, 30 TONS PER HOUR.
THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY MORE IN LABOR, IN POWER, IN FUEL, ET CETERA.
WE ALSO HAVE MORE MAINTENANCE COST AS THESE ARE SHOWN IN ONE OF THE SLIDES BEFORE THE TARS OR WIRES THAT WE RECEIVE IN THE FACILITY CAN CAUSE MOTOR, UH, FAILURES, BRAKES AND EVERYTHING.
I WANT TO REMAIN ALL OF YOU THAT THE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS THE FACILITY IS OWNED BY THE CITY.
SO IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND IT'S AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO HAVE HIGHER DISPOSAL COSTS.
WHENEVER WE DID OUR FINANCIAL MODEL FOR THE BEARD, WE NEVER CONTEMPLATE THAT.
WE HAVE TO BRING THIS EXTRA 17% OF MATERIAL TO THE LANDFILL, SO WE HAVE TO PAY EXTRA DISPOSAL FEES AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE MATERIAL TO THE LANDFILL.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO HAVE IN MIND THAT SET, THAT 17% OF MATERIAL WAS CONSIDERED TO BE REVENUES FOR US.
SO WE HAVE ALSO A LOST IMPACT IN THE REVENUES.
ALSO, THE QUALITY OF THE COMMODITIES THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD, IS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CONTAMINATION.
THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO STRESS MORE THE PROCESS TO GET THE GOOD MATERIAL ABLE TO BE SOLD.
IN THE TABLE, I DID A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE PROCESSING COSTS THAT WE HAVE DURING EXTRA PROCESSING COSTS THAT WE HAVE DURING 2025.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE IMPACT IS AROUND $2.5 MILLION THAT FOR THAT YEAR.
THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR ANY COMPANY LOSING THIS MUCH MONEY.
IT'S REALLY HURTING THE FINANCIAL OF THE BUSINESS.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO LOWER THIS IMPACT? IT'S LIKE, SO FCC IS WORKING DURING THE PAST YEARS WITH THE DIFFERENT SOLID WASTE DIRECTORS TO TRY TO GET INTO AN AMENDMENT TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
AND I HIRED A CONSULTANT TO HELP US CLARIFY THIS ISSUE.
AND THE CONSULTANT AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE, IT WILL BE FOR TO, UM, UH, TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO GIVE US SOME MONEY BACK THAT IS IMPACTED DUE TO THIS CONTAMINATION.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THE MOMENT THAT THE CITY GET THIS DECONTAMINATION WHERE IT SHOULD BE TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE, WE'LL NOT RECEIVE ANY FINANCIAL FROM THE CITY, IT'S JUST UNTIL THAT CONTAMINATION IS RICH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CITY NOW PAY A MAXIMUM OF $20, 21 AND SOME CASH DOLLARS A TOWN FOR THE PROCESS OF THE RECYCLABLES.
IF WE WERE TO REJECT THAT AMOUNT OF MATERIAL, THAT'S 70% THAT IT'S OVER THE 25%.
JUST THE LANDFILL FEE FOR THE CITY IS $33.94 A TON.
IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO DECREASE THE CONTAMINATION.
ALSO, THE CONTRACT CONTEMPLATES A REVENUE SHARE FORMULA.
THE MORE CON, THE MORE, UM, COMMODITIES THAT WE GET, THE LESS CONTAMINATION THAT IS IN THE STREAM, THE MORE MONEY GETS BACK TO THE CITY.
ALSO, FCC HELPS THE CITY WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND
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DOLLARS FOUND EVERY YEAR.THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, GOING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE INVESTED IN PROGRAMS LIKE TECH CARDS BE LABELING, HAVE LOADS OUT ET TN SO WE CAN REALLY DECREASE THE CONTAMINATION.
THANKS, AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND ALSO TOO, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ, WHO HAS JOINED US IN THE CHAMBERS.
UM, AND FIRST UP, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND HELPING INFORM, UH, MY COLLEAGUES AND, AND STAFF OF, OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE, ON THE RECYCLE SIDE, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, WE KNOW SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS HAD TROUBLE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY FUNDING IT CORRECTLY.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTED IN IT AS WELL.
ARE Y'ALL FOLLOWING WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WANTING TO DO NOW WITH THIS BUDGET, WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE? AND DO Y'ALL SEE ANY POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE IMPACTS WITH THAT? I WOULD SAY THAT WHENEVER THE CITIZENS ARE CHARGING A FEE FOR THEIR SOLID WASTE, WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE DECREASE OF THE CONTAMINATION, UM, GOES DOWN.
I MEAN, THE CONTAMINATION DECREASE.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A POSITIVE IMPACT IF WE START INVESTING WITH, WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FIRST, AND THEN POSSIBLY WE STILL HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT A TRASH FEE.
THAT WAS WHAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT TOO IS WHAT, WHAT YOU ALL ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU KNOW SO FAR REGARDING, UH, THE, UH, CHANGE ON THE SOLID WASTE, HOW THAT WILL IMPACT YOU.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK CERTAINLY ON THE COUNCIL SIDE TOO, YOU KNOW, I KEEP GLARING AT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND CERTAINLY WHEN WE WERE, UH, WE WERE OUT THERE AT THE FACILITY, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THE CONTAMINATION RATE IS 42%, MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE, I'M LIKE, IT MUST BE A HUNDRED PERCENT BECAUSE THERE'S, IT'S A LOT.
SO HOWEVER WE CAN HELP YOU TO GET THAT WORD OUT AND, AND SOME CREATIVE IDEAS, CERTAINLY WITHIN NEWSLETTERS AND THROUGH TOWN HALLS AND SUCH, I THINK, UM, MOSTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WORD OF MOUTH AND, AND REALLY REACHING OUT TO THE, TO THE COM TO THE COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL.
CAN I HAD A FOLLOW UP AS WELL? SURE.
UM, JUST ON THE, ON THE LOAD AUDITING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT, THAT DATA TO, TO SHOW ANY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS? SO RIGHT NOW IN THE FACILITY, WE DO A LOAD, DO WE DO CHECK LOADS RANDOMLY FOR THE CITY AND WE GIVE 'EM, UH, SOME TYPE OF, UH, FEEDBACK ON HOW THE CONTAMINATION IT IS.
UH, THAT HELPS TO KNOW, IDENTIFY THE ROUTE, IDENTIFY WHERE THIS, THIS TRUCK WAS COMING FROM, AND WHERE MAYBE MORE EFFORTS NEEDS TO BE PUT IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH IN THAT AREA.
AND, AND THEN THE LAST ONE, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE THE LAST STOP FOR RECYCLING.
UM, WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD TO FIND OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO HELP, UH, MAYBE LIKE AT A TRANSFER STATION.
UH, HOW, HOW COULD THAT BE HELPFUL TO SOME OF THE OPERATIONS FOR YOU ALL AS WELL? I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE THE TRANSFER STATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
I BELIEVE IT'S THE ONE THAT IS LOCATED IN SOUTH POST OAK.
UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE CITY IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE TRANSPORTATION COST, THE LOGISTIC COST, UH, FOR US FOR FCC RIGHT NOW, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY COST OF TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATED TO THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE THE CITY BRINGS THE MATERIAL TO US.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE A TRANSFER STATION OPEN, WE'LL GET MORE MATERIAL AND IT WILL BE VERY SORTED IN THE POINT.
STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION FROM THE CITY ABOUT LOWER CONTAMINATION RATES WHEN Y'ALL BID.
WAS THAT WITHIN THE ADVERTISEMENT OR WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION? IN THE RFP? IN THE RFP.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEAM REGRETS, SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE.
SHE HAD A PRIOR, UM, COMMITMENT, BUT, UM, DO WANNA ASK THE QUESTION, UM, WHAT, HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WITH THE CURRENT, UM, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UM, ON THIS AMENDMENT ONE SO FAR? OKAY.
AND WHAT, CAN YOU ELABORATE WHY OR WHAT'S, OH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN.
WE HAD A MEETING BACK IN JANUARY IN WHICH WE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, OUR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, AND WE, WE WERE, UH, TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT THAT WE'LL NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND RESOLVE.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE OFFICE WITH, UH, NO
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SUCCESS SO FAR.'CAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU PUBLIC OUTREACH IS, IS IMPORTANT AS WELL AS, UM, THE DEPARTMENT, UH, COMMUNICATION AS WELL, BUT THANK YOU.
AND, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, SOLID WASTE BECAUSE I TOO, I THINK THAT'S, I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS AND, AND KNOWING, UM, THAT SOLID WASTE IS SHIFTING TO PUBLIC WORKS.
YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE VERY TIMELY TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN REGARDS TO FCC ALSO, UM, ON THE, UM, UH, CONTAMINATION, UM, THE, UH, AUDITING AND SUCH.
SO WOULD SOLID WASTE HAVE A, UH, I GUESS A REPORT AS SUCH THAT WOULD SHOW ROUTES, ZIP CODES WHERE YOU WOULD THINK TARGETED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IS MORE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER CONTAMINATION RATES IN CERTAIN AREAS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL CAN PINPOINT AND, AND HELP US TO HELP YOU, UH, RIGHT.
TRY TO REDUCE THAT? WE CAN DEFINITELY HELP TO DO THAT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CARRIER IN THE PAST, I KNOW THE CITY HAS DONE A LOT OF STUDIES ON THAT, AND I BELIEVE THEY ALREADY, THE CITY HAS ALREADY A LOT OF DATA ON THAT, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY KEEP BRINGING MORE DATA ABOUT ALL THE LOADS THAT WE ARE AUDITING.
SO MAYBE WE CAN, UH, FOLLOW UP WITH SOLID WASTE AS WELL.
UM, STEPH FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S OFFICE.
UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.
I APPRECIATED THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY.
I WANTED TO START OFF ASKING YOU ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION RATE.
UH, UH, YOU REFERENCED AROUND 42%.
HAS THAT BEEN CONSISTENT OVER THE SIX OR SEVEN YEARS YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS? OR WHAT, WHAT ARE THE VARIATIONS AND TRENDS BEEN IN THAT, UH, CONTAMINATION RATE? SO THE, UH, THE CONTAMINATION HAS BEEN AROUND THE 40% IN THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.
WE'LL SAY THAT THEY SEE THE OTHER THIRD TIME POINT HIRE ALSO A THIRD PARTY, A CONSULTANT TO HELP THEM DOING SOME TAGGING OF THE CURRENT, UH, RECYCLING CARTS.
AND IT WAS DECREASED TO, I BELIEVE IT WAS 35 OR 36, 30% OF THE THIRD POINT, WHICH HELPED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT ABOVE OF THE NATIONAL LEVERAGE, BUT IT WAS GOING ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THEN INCREASED AGAIN.
SO, UH, WITH REGARD TO, UH, I'M A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION, UH, OR, OR, UH, INTERACTION BETWEEN YOU AND SOLID WASTE WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC EDUCATION TO TRY TO LOWER THE CONTAMINATION RATE.
UM, IS THAT, IS THAT COMPLETELY ON SOLID WASTE OR DO YOU, UH, DOES FCC HAVE A ROLE IN THAT AS WELL? SO, FCC PROVIDES FUNDS TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO DO THEIR PART ON THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.
US AS A COMPANY, WE OFFER TOUR FOR FREE ON THE FACILITY, AND WE DO PROVIDE THROUGH, UM, OUR, UH, LINK IN FACEBOOK, UH, ALL OUR, UM, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
WE PROVIDE SOME EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AS WELL.
AND, UH, WITH 200 FACILITIES WORLDWIDE, DO YOU HAVE, UM, SOME EXPERIENCE OR DATA THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE CITY WITH REGARD TO WHAT'S WORKING EDUCATIONALLY OR, OR OTHER EFFORTS TO REDUCE CONTAMINATION? MM-HMM
IN, IN OTHER CITIES, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RIGHT.
DUE WAS, UH, WE DO, UH, WE DO NOT ONLY HAVE A LOT OF, UH, DATA AND A LOT OF, UH, EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIALS PUBLISHED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BECAUSE WE ARE PRESENT IN 35 COUNTRIES.
UH, WE DID CONVEY THESE CONVERSATIONS, UH, TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT DURING THE LAST YEARS, AND, UM, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO KEEP HAVING THEM.
UM, THE CONTAMINATION, UH, BEING AT AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, THE WEIGHT OF IT, WHICH HAS TO BE, I GUESS, PROCESSED BACK TO, TO A LANDFILL, BUT THEN THERE'S, UH, ALSO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
ARE THERE ARE PARTICULAR STREAM OF OR TWO OF CONTAMINATION, MAYBE THE STRAPS OR, OR, OR YARD WASTE OR WHATEVER THAT, THAT ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL OF YOUR FINANCIAL RESULTS THAT WOULD BE, UH, GOOD FOR THE CITY TO TRY TO ATTACK FIRST? RIGHT.
SO RIGHT NOW, TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WOULD BE THE PROPANE TANKS, BECAUSE THOSE COAST FIRES AND FIRES ARE REALLY DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE AT THE FACILITY.
THAT WOULD BE A, THAT, THOSE HAVE HUGE IMPACT.
WE CAN HAVE A LOT OF, UH, FIRES, UH, IN A MONTH DUE TO THOSE.
SO THOSE WOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAVE A HUGE IMPACT, PLUS ANY WIRING TANGLING THAT CAN JUST CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO STOP, BUT AT LEAST IT'S
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NOT A HAZARD ITSELF.AND, UM, ON THAT NOTE, IF YOU'LL SEND MATERIALS, UM, IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES, UM, DIGITAL, WE'LL GET THEM OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL OFFICES AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE EVERYONE BE, WOULD BE WILLING TO PUSH OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR PERHAPS, UH, NEWSLETTERS AND SUCH, JUST TO TRY TO HELP COMMUNICATE SOME OF THE DO'S AND DON'TS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE PIECES I RECALL BEING OUT THERE, I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT ON PLASTIC BOTTLES, THE LID HAS TO BE OFF.
MOST PEOPLE, I WOULD BET MY RIGHT ARM, MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, AND I, AGAIN, I KNOW YOU, YOU ALL HAVE THE, THE MATERIALS FOR EDUCATION, BUT IT'S JUST NOT COMMONLY KNOWN, I THINK.
AND ALSO TO THE CLEANLINESS OF, YOU KNOW, SOME TO THAT CONTAMINATION IF IT'S NOT CLEAN RECYCLABLES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT, EVEN JUST AT THE VERY BASIC LEVEL, IF WE CAN HELP YOU, JUST SEND IT MY WAY AND WE'LL GET IT OUT TO EVERYONE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S OFFICE.
UH, AND JUST ADDING TO OUTREACH, UH, AS THE FCC, LET'S SAY WE, OUR OFFICE HAD AN EVENT AND WE REQUEST, CAN WE REQUEST FCC STAFF TO LIKE SET UP A BOOTH OR A RESOURCE TABLE, UH, ESSENTIALLY TO, YOU KNOW, AT A COMMUNITY EVENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND ASK QUESTIONS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO OR THE FCC CAN DO? WE'LL DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, WE, WE'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF EVENTS, SO YES.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT'S, UH, ALL THE QUESTIONS FROM THE, THE HORSESHOE.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND, AND THEY PERHAPS HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND IF SO, UH, WE MAY BRING YOU BACK UP, BUT AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ HAS POPPED UP.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMENDING THE CONTRACT.
UH, WHAT, WHAT IS IT, IF IT'S NOT AMENDED, UM, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH FTC, UM, GOING FORWARD? THAT'S, UH, I DON'T HAVE A AN ANSWER FOR YOU THAT WILL BE MORE OF A, A UPPER MANAGEMENT DECISION, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT HAS A HUGE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON OUR ACCOUNTS, ON BOTH OF OUR ACCOUNTS YOU WOULD SAY, OR JUST MORE SO ON FCC.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE CC IN FCC? I MEAN, FOR US IN FCC, JUST IN 2025, IT HAS A $2.5 MILLION OKAY.
IMPACTING OUR ACCOUNTS, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU.
SO I THINK THAT COMPLETES THE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
AGAIN, SEND MATERIALS, HOWEVER WE CAN HELP YOU.
CERTAINLY, UH, I, I KNOW WE'RE WILLING TO, UM, AND WE WILL, UH, REACH OUT TO SOLID WASTE AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS BASED ON THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE THAT NONE OF US REALLY HAVE ANSWERS TO.
SO, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
I'LL PASS OUT A PAPER THAT WILL, UH, HELP YOU KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHILE HE IS DOING THAT, I THINK IT'S PROVIDENTIAL THAT, UH, THIS, I FOLLOW THE SESSION ON RECYCLING.
I AT THE STATE CAPITOL, I'M A CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATE.
I ASKED THE STAFF MEMBERS, I'M GIVING YOU A HINT, HOW MANY, WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THERMOPLASTICS THAT WE RECYCLE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS? WATCH, 91% OF THE THERMOPLASTICS IS STILL IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THESE PEOPLE NEED SOME HELP GETTING THEIR JOB DONE.
THANK YOU FOR MY PASSIONATE SPEECH THERE.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE REST OF IT.
I'M THE VP OF STRATEGY AND HYDROGEN SAFETY CULTURE LEADER AT H TWO 1000, A HOUSTON COMPANY WHOSE MISSION IS TO STANDARDIZE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HYDROGEN REFILLING STATIONS FOR, UH, HRS AT, UH, FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
MY CEO MARTIN KIRSCHMAN IS HERE.
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THAT'S A FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN.YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THAT NAME.
I CALL HIM SIR BURT AT SOME POINT.
HE'S WORKING FOR THE, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT THREE.
TOM RAMSEY NOW, UH, HAS SOME THINGS GOING ON THAT KEEP HIM AWAY.
UM, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT HYDROGEN, IT IS PART OF THE BUSH IAH LONG-TERM FUTURE.
MY OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO DISCUSS AN OVERALL MASTER PLAN THAT OUTLINES A STRATEGIC VISION TO TRANSFORM BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT TO SUPPORT AN AIRPORT THAT IS GOING TO BE DOUBLE PASSENGERS IN THE NEXT 14 YEARS.
THE HIGH LEVEL CONCEPTUAL, UM, COMPONENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
THEY ANNOUNCED $12 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
IDENTIFY AND, UH, OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR TERMINALS PARKING SUPPORT SERVICES TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE PASSENGER DEMAND.
IDENTIFY WHICH ROADS TO REMOVE AND WHERE THE NEW ONES NEED TO BE, UH, FOR THE INCREASED TRAFFIC.
UH, DETERMINE WHERE THE NEW CHP THAT'S COMBINED HEAT AND POWER.
THOSE OLDER GUYS CALL THAT CODE GENERATION, IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD THAT WORD.
UM, IT'S NOW CALLED A MICRO GRID, UH, FACILITY.
AND ITS, ITS UTILITIES ARE POWER, CHILL WATER, HOT WATER, UH, EVERYTHING THAT'S IN, UH, WILL BE LOCATED HOW THESE INTERNAL UTILITIES SERVE, UH, ENGINEER NECESSARY CHANGES TO, TO THE UTILITIES.
THE ENERGY TRANSITION TO HYDROGEN REQUIRES IDENTIFICATION OF THE, UH, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE HYDROGEN REFUELING STATIONS, UH, TO CREATE THE COMMUNITY FOCUSED.
THIS IS MY, UH, PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT BULLET TO CREATE A COMMUNITY FOCUSED SOLUTION THAT ENSURES RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE, REDUNDANT, DEPENDABLE.
I CAN PUT SOME MORE COMMAS, UH, SYSTEMS FOR AIRPORT OPERATIONS OVER THE NEXT 60 PLUS YEARS.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO IDENTIFY THE RELEVANT PUBLIC PART.
UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CITY, UNITED AIRLINES, OUR ELECTRIC COMPANY, TEXAS A AND M, AND OTHER AREA UNIVERSITIES, UH, NGOS AND OTHERS.
THESE ARE THE HIGH LEVEL, UH, COMPONENTS, UH, THAT, UH, MAKE UP AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS PLAN.
THE REASON I'M PRESENTING THIS IS OUR ENGINEERS AT DFW.
IF I COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, JUST CURIOUS, HAVE, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT? OUR ENGINEER HAS.
WE'RE AT THE POINT OF SETTING A MEETING FOR MAY THE 22ND.
I DON'T WANNA GET TOO FAR OUT IN FRONT OF MYSELF BECAUSE THE MEETING IS STILL BEING SET UP.
SO I'M, I'M SURE DIRECTOR SNIA AND HIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY, UM, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
I, YOU JUST WANTED TO BE SURE WE GOT THIS MESSAGE TO YOU FOLKS BEFORE SOMEBODY AT THE AIRPORT CALLS AND SAYS, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
ALEX LANDON, UH, WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
LOOKED LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME FRIENDS WITH YOU.
I'M A PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AT UHS CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
I AM NOT HERE ADVOCATING OR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY.
UM, I'M JUST HERE WITH FIVE OF MY STUDENTS, UM, AND MY, UM, CO-FACULTY TO SHARE A BIT ABOUT A RELEVANT COURSE THAT WE'RE RUNNING, UM, AND INVITE YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO THE FINAL PRESENTATIONS OF THAT COURSE.
UM, SO THIS YEAR FOR THE THIRD YEAR, UM, I'M TEACHING A LEARNING ABROAD COURSE CALLED CONNECTING COASTAL RESILIENCE FROM GREATER HOUSTON TO THE NETHERLANDS.
UH, BEFORE WE DEPART FOR THE NETHERLANDS.
IN ABOUT A WEEK, OUR STUDENTS ARE TASKED WITH UNDERSTANDING THE RESILIENCE CHALLENGE HERE IN HOUSTON, INCLUDING COMING TO THIS MEETING AND RES AND READING THE RESILIENT HOUSTON REPORT.
UH, WE THEN GO TO THE NETHERLANDS, UM, NEXT WEEK FOR 10 DAYS, UM, WHERE THEY'LL GET TO UNDERSTAND THE DUTCH APPROACH TO LIVING WITH WATER, UM, AS THEY ARE GLOBAL LEADERS IN THE TOPIC.
UM, THAT INCLUDES SEEING THE FAMOUS STORM SURGE BARRIERS THERE.
UM, WHEN WE RETURN FROM THE CLASS ON MAY 29TH ON, UH, MAIN CAMPUS, OUR STUDENTS WILL GIVE THEIR FINAL PRESENTATIONS
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SHOWCASING WHAT THEY LEARNED AND HOW IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE APPLIED TO HOUSTON.SO THEY'LL EACH GIVE A THREE MINUTE PITCH ON AN IDEA FOR A MORE RESILIENT HOUSTON.
AND WE ARE JUST HERE TO INVITE YOU AND YOUR STAFF, UM, TO ATTEND THOSE FINAL PRESENTATIONS.
I KNOW OUR STUDENTS WOULD LEARN A LOT FROM YOU AND ALSO ENJOY BEING IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
SO WE'LL SHARE THE INFORMATION, UH, FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS WITH STAFF SO IT CAN BE CIRCULATED.
UM, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TOOK TIME OUTTA YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO COME DOWN AND SAFE TRAVELS TO THE NETHERLANDS AND, AND CERTAINLY WE'D BE INTERESTED IN, IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO, TO, UH, SEE WHAT OUR YOUNG, YOUNG, I SAY YOUNG FOLKS ARE DOING OUT THERE AND, AND, UH, WHAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
SO CERTAINLY ONCE YOU GET BACK AND YOU'RE READY TO PRESENT, REACH OUT AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AND LISTEN AND, AND PROBABLY LEARN A WHOLE LOT FROM YOU ALL.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, BILL KELLY ON BEHALF, ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY ON OUR SHARED GOAL OF INCREASING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S RECYCLING RATE.
AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A SOLID WASTE FEE, WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
MOVING SOLID WASTE UNDER PUBLIC WORKS AND FUNDED BY THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES FOR THIS BADLY UNDER-RESOURCED DEPARTMENT.
NOW TO BE CLEAR, THE SOLID WASTE WORKERS ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AS NOTED IN THE CONTROLLER'S REPORT, THE AVERAGE SOLID WASTE WORKER IS WORKING 22 HOURS OF OVERTIME PER PAYCHECK.
THAT MEANS AN EXTRA WEEK'S WORTH OF WORK PER MONTH COSTING THE CITY MONEY AND POTENTIALLY BURNING OUT OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE PROUD TO COORDINATE OUR ADVOCACY WITH HOPE UNION AND WANNA MAKE SURE AND APPRECIATE AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR SHARED MISSION.
AFTER TOURING THE FCC FACILITY AND HEARING THEIR PRESENTATION TODAY, WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST IN FCCS INTEREST IN THE CITY'S INTEREST AND HOUSTONIAN INTEREST TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR CONTAMINATION RATE.
THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS OF 42% IS REFLECTIVE OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS, UNRELIABLE PICKUP, MAJOR UNDERINVESTMENT UNDERINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, AND FRANKLY, A LACK OF PRIORITY TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET, THE $101 MILLION, THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT IS PROJECTED, UH, WAS, UH, GIVEN, WAS PROJECTED TO PROVIDE ONCE A WEEK TRASH PICKUP, BIWEEKLY RECYCLING PICKUP, PROVIDE HEAVY TRASH AND YARD WASTE, PICKUP, AND OPERATE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD DROP-OFF CENTERS FOR APPROXIMATELY $256 PER HOUSEHOLD.
NOW, I DON'T NEED TO TELL THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE AT THIS MEETING, UH, THAT THREE OF THE TOP 4 3 1 1 CALLS WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO A LACK OF THESE SERVICES.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ANSWERING THE CALLS, THIS WAS UNREALISTIC, WAS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND APPLIED INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND.
NOW RECENTLY IN THE BURNS MCDONALD REPORT, WHICH WAS LITERALLY RELEASED YESTERDAY, IT CONTEMPLATES THE TOTAL COST OF PROVIDING THAT SERVICE AT ABOUT $27 PER HOUSEHOLD.
THAT COMPARES TO FORT WORTH'S $25 A HOUSEHOLD IN SAN ANTONIO'S $33.
THAT IS WELL WITHIN THE RANGE AND VERY REALISTIC.
HOWEVER, JUST SECURING THE RESOURCES IS NOT ENOUGH.
LISTED IN THE REPORT IS THE COST OF SERVICES BREAKDOWN FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE FEE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, WHICH I THINK THE CHAIR MENTIONED HERE.
IT IS LISTED AS 0.04 CENTS, LITERALLY ON THE CHART AT ROUNDS TO 0% GIVEN THE LAST YEAR'S PHYSICAL DIVERSION RATE OF 16%, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 34.7.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM LOCAL AREA STUDENTS.
HELL, IF YOU REALLY GOTTA GET SOME STUDENTS, GET SOME U OF H STUDENTS, THEY WILL GET IT DONE, UH, TO CIVIC CLUBS, TO SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, TO A MYRIAD EVENTS THAT YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF ATTEND ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE SHOULD HAVE A MAJOR PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT HELPS INFORM HOUSTONIANS ABOUT RECYCLING AND OBVIOUS THE OBVIOUS DUES AND DON'TS.
THE COST BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER HOUSTONIANS, COULD PAY HUGE DI DIVIDENDS.
LIKEWISE, WE SHOULD NOT ASK HOUSTONIANS TO NOW PAY AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR SERVICES THEY DO NOT WANT, AND THAT YOU HAVE NOT VOTED ON UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
AND YES, I BEAR RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS.
AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH EXXON AND LYELL BAEL TO SEGREGATE PLASTICS FOR THEIR CHEMICAL RECYCLING PROGRAM.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE EPA UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAVE ADDED URGENCY TO THIS ISSUE.
TO QUOTE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN HIS RECENT OP-ED FOR THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, UNDER THE CURRENT INTERPRETATION OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT,
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CHEMICAL RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE TREATED LIKE INCINERATOR AND HAVE STRICT LIMITS ON THEIR TOXIC EMISSIONS, WHICH IS CORRECT.THE EPA IS PROPOSING TO REGULATE THEM INSTEAD AS A MANUFACTURING, UH, FACILITY, WHICH COULD WEAKEN THOSE PROTECTIONS OR EVEN CREATE A REGULATORY GAP WHERE FACILITIES FACE FEW, IF ANY, ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS.
MECHANICAL RECYCLING, WHICH IS WHAT FCC DOES, IS WHAT MOST HOUSTON HOUSTONIANS THINK OF WHEN YOU MENTION RECYCLING.
TURNING A PLASTIC BOTTLE OR ALUMINUM CAN INTO ANOTHER PLASTIC BOTTLE OR ALUMINUM CAN MAKES SENSE.
WE DO NOT THINK, NOR SHOULD WE WANT A PROCESS THAT POLLUTES THE AIR WHILE INCENTIVIZING THE CREATION OF MORE AND MORE PLASTIC.
INSTEAD, WE SHOULD ALL BE INCENTIVIZED TO IMPROVE OUR RECYCLING RATE BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS.
A TRANSFER STATION ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN THAT CAN HANDLE RECYCLABLES WOULD LITERALLY CUT OUR FLEET MILEAGE IN HALF.
HOT SHOWERS THAT CAN SANITIZE THOSE TRUCKS, SO WHEN THEY TRANSITION FROM PICKING UP GARBAGE TO PICKING UP RECYCLABLES CAN DECREASE THE CONTAMINATION RATE.
THAT JUST MAKES SENSE, BY THE WAY.
THAT'S ONLY SOMETHING YOU GET FROM LISTENING TO THOSE HOPE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THERE EVERY DAY DOING IT.
WE APPLAUD THE OPTIMIZED AND BALANCED ROUTES THAT DIRECTOR HASSAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON AND CAN SEE THE RESULTS.
BUT LET'S HIRE MORE WORKERS TO LESSEN THE OVERTIME BURDENS ON OUR CITY BUDGET AND THE BURNOUT ON OUR EMPLOYEES.
ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF WE WORK TOGETHER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO DIRECTOR HASSAN'S PRESENTATION ON THE SOLID WASTE BUDGET FOR FY 2027 AND HOPE YOU WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH THE RESOURCES HE NEEDS TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
WE ARE NOT NAIVE TO THINK THAT IMPOSING A NEW FEE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL WILL COME WITHOUT PUBLIC ATTENTION.
AT ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, WE STAND READY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND CONTEXT JUST AS WE DID TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND THAT WE'VE DONE IN VARIOUS MEDIA REPORTS ACROSS TOWN AS SOLID WASTE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS.
WE WILL DO OUR PART TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR OUR RES TO INCREASE OUR RECYCLING RATE.
WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT OUR BUDGET AND OUR NATURAL WORLD BY MAKING THESE BADLY NEEDED INVESTMENTS.
AND I AGREE, SOME OF IT'S JUST LOGICAL, YOU KNOW, GET THE TRUCKS CLEAN, GET THE TRANSFER STATION, LIKE THERE'S A LOT THAT I THINK WE CAN DO.
IT'S, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO, TO, UH, UM, THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
AND I, I THINK CERTAINLY I'D LIKE TO SAY, I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
UH, WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER STATIONS AND CLEANING, BUT ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS OR IN, IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE, GO TOWARDS EDUCATION? I MEAN, PASSING OUT PAMPHLETS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE BEST IDEA IN MY OPINION.
I, I AM VERY MUCH WITH YOU ON THAT.
UM, KATIE, AND FIRST THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN OTHER CITIES, UH, IS LITERALLY THE TAGGING PROGRAM THAT FCC MENTIONED WHERE YOU IDENTIFY WHO IS NOT DOING IT CORRECTLY AND TRY AND MAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
NOW, IN SOME CITIES, THEY WILL LITERALLY FINE AND TICKET, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING A FINE AND TICKET, BUT FRANKLY, IF FOLKS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WRONG, THEY TEND TO CORRECT IT, RIGHT? I MEAN, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, THE, THE CAP ON THE PLASTIC BOTTLE, IT GETS AS BASIC TO JUST NOT BAGGING YOUR RECYCLABLES.
I'LL ADMIT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT MY RECYCLING CAN.
SO BEING ABLE TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE FOLKS THAT ARE BY EITHER JUST IGNORANCE, NOT KNOWING OR TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THEY JUST HAVE MISINFORMATION.
IF WE INVEST IN GETTING THEM THE RIGHT INFORMATION, A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS, I THINK WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
THE OTHER PART TOO, HAVING MORE RELIABLE PICKUP, WHICH I, I THINK, AND AS STAFF MEMBERS, YOU GUYS ARE ANSWERING THE PHONES ON IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTOR HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF IMPROVING THOSE SERVICES FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO.
SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT WHEN YOU ARE, IF YOU MISS A RECYCLING TURN AND SOMEBODY HAS TO WAIT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN INCREASED CONTAMINATION RATE.
SO, RELIABLE SERVICE IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING, BUT THOSE TAGGING OF INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT ARE JUST DOING IT WRONG, I THINK CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE.
AND FRANKLY, WE'VE SEEN CASE STUDIES IN CITY AFTER CITY, THOSE TAGGING AND HAVING FOLKS RIDE ALONG WITH IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE MAKER.
BUT AGAIN, IT, IT COSTS MONEY TO DO WE NEED THAT ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SIDE.
UH, IN, IN MY COMMUNITY, THE NORTH END OF DISTRICT E OF COURSE, ARE, WE'RE NOT ON THE CITY'S SOLID WASTE.
AND IF YOU WANT YOUR RECYCLING PICKED UP, YOU KNOW, NEXT TIME TO CORRECT THAT.
BUT THE, BECAUSE THEY WILL TAG IT AND LEAVE IT.
SO I, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS EFFECTIVE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.
CERTAINLY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH THE BUDGET, UH, PRESENTATIONS, UH, YOUR INPUT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING SOLID WASTE IS, IS VERY MUCH WELCOME.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A COPY OF LUKE'S OP-ED
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THAT WAS IN THE CHRONICLE ON THAT CHEMICAL RECYCLE.UH, DOES DOMINIQUE MAZO HERE? I DON'T SEE HIM.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO, UH, SIGNED WANTED TO SIGN UP TO, TO, UH, SPEAK AND WHO DID NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY? YES, SIR.
IF YOU'LL COME ON DOWN AND, AND STATE YOUR NAME.
WILLIAM, UM, I WAS GONNA TURN THIS LETTER IN.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO TURN IT INTO.
UM, IT'S PRETTY MUCH DEALING WITH, UM, GANG STALKING, GASLIGHTING BULLYING.
UM, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOMETHING THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND, UM, I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT.
IT HAPPENED AT A FACILITY AT THE WHEELHOUSE IN, UM, DEER PARK.
UM, I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
I HAVE PROOF OF THE PEOPLE THAT DID IT.
UM, I GOT HIT WITH HYPNOSIS, UM, RECORDINGS AND RIVER PSYCHOLOGY.
I HAD AN OVERDOSE BECAUSE OF IT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TURN IN THE LETTER.
WITH THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINISHED.
OUR NEXT, UH, RESILIENCE MEETING IS JUNE THE FOURTH AT 10:00 AM.
IF WE HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT FCC FOR COMING ON AND, UH, COMING ON DOWN AND PRESENTING AND, UH, EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS AND NEEDS.
AND CERTAINLY WE'LL TRY TO TRY TO HELP YOU ADDRESS THE CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS SOLID WASTE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.