I have an early memory of my grandfather loading me and my brother into his Ford Ranchero and taking us to the dump (landfill was the fancy term we didn’t use). I’m not sure what we were disposing of that day, but I do remember being parked out on top of what felt like a mountain of trash and being completely grossed out by the smell and other “attributes." That memory has stuck with me for many years - especially as I drive past one of the landfills in our area.
Landfill Capacity Is Not Limitless
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), the council of government (COG) that serves to coordinate programs and services across jurisdictional boundaries in our area, has created the 2022-2042 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan, which was adopted and made effective by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2023. In this plan, they state that we have 35 years of reserve capacity across the landfills in our region, which they consider adequate. However, in the introduction to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension’s Don’t Bag It! Program, they state that Texas landfills are filling up at an “alarming rate."
One objective in H-GAC's plan is to “encourage the development of facilities that reduce, reuse, and recycle waste materials”. It’s recognized that by reducing our consumption, reusing or repairing items, composting food scraps and yard waste, and recycling, we decrease the demand for more and larger landfills. Whether our capacity is adequate or filling up at an alarming rate, it’s a good idea to cut back on what we send to the landfill!
Waste Audits
Harris County Public Library (HCPL) is pursuing certification as a sustainable library system, and as part of that process, we are required to conduct waste audits at some of our branches. That means digging through our trash and sorting it out by categories. This also aligns with goals in the county’s climate action plan, so we’ve partnered with the Harris County Sustainability Division to conduct waste audits at 6 of our library branches and have helped with waste audits at several other county facilities. It became apparent after conducting these audits that a large amount of waste generated in these buildings could be either recycled or composted.
Keeping Food Scraps and Other Compostables Out of the Landfills
The Harris County Sustainability Division was awarded grant funds that are being used towards funding a compost pilot project. Part of this pilot involves collecting food scraps and other compostable materials generated by staff at four of our library branches and two county jail kitchens managed by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, on a weekly basis. In addition, we’re hosting several public collection events at those four library branches so you can bring your food scraps and other compostable materials.
Click here to find the participating branch closest to you and to see what you can and can't bring for composting. Not sure why composting is important? This video answers that question. Not able to make our drop-off events? Learn about composting at home from a Harris County Master Gardener in the October 2025 Green Thumb Lecture!
Repair Cafes
In another effort to reduce landfill waste, the Harris County Sustainability Division and HCPL have been partnering since November 2023 to host Repair Cafes at library branches across the county. This gives you the chance to work with volunteer fixers to find out whether a beloved small appliance, toy, or clothing item that’s torn, broken, or not working can be repaired. This keeps repairable items out of the landfill and saves you the cost of replacing them. We’ve got one more event scheduled for this year, so click here for details on how to sign up for an appointment to work with a volunteer repair coach on Saturday, November 8th, from 11-3 at the Baldwin Boettcher Branch.
Small Electronics Recycling
Want to help out even more? You can also reduce waste by bringing your small personal electronics devices (old cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, etc. - no small appliances or larger electronics) for recycling at any of these public collection events. On America Recycles Day, Saturday, November 15th, from 9-12, you’ll have the chance to bring even more electronics (old laptops, computers, TVs, etc.) for recycling at the North Channel Branch. Click here for details on that event.
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