A reminder …
Trash Bins must be kept out of public view (it is the law)!
If you live in Houston and use a trash container for automated collection services, you have a duty to store the trash container in a secure place where the bin will not be visible to a person standing in the right-of-way of any public street adjacent to your property. Please refer to: Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas, Chapter 39 Solid Waste and Litter Control, Sec. 39-62(g), General specifications, May 7, 2024.
Also in Houston, it is unlawful to place or allow to remain any trash containers at the curb-line prior to 6:00 p.m. of the day before the collection day, and after collection service personnel have passed the neighborhood for that day. Please refer to: Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas, Chapter 39 Solid Waste and Litter Control, Sec. 39-65(e), Placement for basic garbage collection service, May 7, 2024.
Violations of a provision of the Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas is punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $2,000.00. Please refer to: Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Texas, Chapter 39 Solid Waste and Litter Control, Sec. 39-4 Penalties; enforcement, May 7, 2024.
In May of 2022, the Spring Shadows Civic Association adopted Exterior Maintenance Guidelines that provide that all garbage cans and other trash receptacles must be kept out of the public view before 6:00 p.m. on the day before a scheduled trash pickup and after 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection. See Spring Shadows Civic Association Exterior Maintenance Guidelines/Architectural Control Guidelines, adopted May 26, 2022.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – CODE OF ORDINANCES (EXCERPTS)
Chapter 39 – SOLID WASTE AND LITTER CONTROL
Sec. 39-1. – Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Automated service container means a city-issued rolling, molded plastic container, equipped with a lid, capable of holding not more than 90 gallons, and designed to be collected by means of a garbage collection vehicle designed to be operated by a single person without the necessity of leaving the cab of the truck.
Basic garbage collection service means automated collection service, recyclable material collection service, and other basic collection services.
Public street means the entire width between property lines of any road, street, way, alley, bridge, or other similar thoroughfare, not privately owned or controlled, when any part thereof is open to the public for vehicular traffic, which is the responsibility of the city or other similar public agency to maintain.
Sec. 39-4. – Penalties; enforcement (In General)
(a) When in this chapter an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or whenever in this chapter the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision shall be punishable upon first conviction by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $2,000.00 and upon each subsequent conviction by a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $2,000.00. Each day that any violation continues shall be punishable as a separate offense. To the extent that any conduct in violation of this chapter also constitutes a violation of state penal laws, then it shall be punishable as provided in the applicable state law.
Sec. 39-62. – General specifications (Containers)
(g) It shall also be the duty of each person who receives automated service containers and other equipment to store the equipment in a secure place where it will not be visible to a person standing in the right-of-way of any public street adjacent to the property where the equipment is used, except while placed for collection in accordance with this chapter. It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the person’s property is so configured that no location exists for storage of the equipment in a place where it is not visible to a person standing in the right-of-way of a public street adjacent to the property.
