The City of Houston and The Houston Apartment Association Launch New Go Green Community Recycling Initiative

Program Aims to Increase Recycling in Apartment Communities

The Houston Apartment Association (HAA) and the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) today launched the Go Green Community initiative to increase recycling in apartment communities.

With approximately 2,000 apartment communities in Houston city limits, HAA and SWMD hope to see 50 percent of those properties establish recycling programs by 2013. Many apartment communities already have adopted recycling programs and the Go Green Community initiative will recognize those efforts. Participating communities will be listed on the City of Houston and Houston Apartment Association web pages as Go Green Communities. They also will be eligible for a Go Green Community certificate to let their residents and others know of their efforts to create a cleaner, greener Houston.

“By its very nature, apartment living is a cleaner, greener option for Houstonians,” said HAA President Kim Small. “Apartment residents generally live in smaller homes and use less energy and resources than single-family home dwellers. As an association, we want to take our green initiatives one step further and encourage on-site recycling to create even more environmentally friendly communities,” she said.

“HAA and its members are commended for their leadership and stewardship on this key issue,” said Harry Hayes, Solid Waste Management Director. “Every Houstonian should be able to recycle easily, thereby preserving valuable landfill airspace.”

“Mayor Annise Parker knows Houstonians are interested in transforming their communities to a greener place to live and work, and expanding recycling is at the top of the list,” said Laura Spanjian, Sustainability Director, City of Houston. “The new avenues and partnerships being developed to expand our environmental efforts are more tools to help the City of Houston reduce its carbon footprint as well as decrease waste. The partnership with HAA to create a Go Green Community is a significant milestone in reaching beyond our traditional scope to offer recycling services.”

Communities interested in joining can visit HAA’s website at www.haaonline.org/Recycling to obtain information regarding Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will assist in creating, implementing and maintaining their recycling programs and to register as Go Green Communities.