For Towne Lake residents served by Harris County Municipal Utility District 502, two recent updates could make a practical difference at home—one involving damaged trash and recycling carts, and another focused on conserving water and controlling future costs.

The Harris County MUD 502 Board announced Thursday, August 6, that residents who need a replacement Waste Management trash or recycling bin should submit their request by email rather than relying on the company’s customer support phone line.

The district is also applying to participate in the Water Smart Program offered by the Association of Water Board Directors, an effort intended to expand water conservation awareness and potentially reduce expenses for local taxpayers and utility customers.

How Towne Lake Residents Can Replace a Damaged Trash or Recycling Bin

The updated replacement process follows reports from several residents who experienced difficulty obtaining new carts after their trash or recycling bins were damaged.

After contacting its Waste Management contract manager, the MUD 502 Board said residents should email replacement requests to cssatex@wm.com.

Using email creates a written record of the request, making it easier for residents and district representatives to track when the request was submitted and how long the response takes.

Residents should include their name, service address, contact information and a brief description of the damaged cart when submitting a request. They may also want to save a copy of the email until the replacement is completed.

For general Waste Management service questions or other collection problems, residents may continue calling customer support at 800-800-5804 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Information about Towne Lake trash pickup schedules, recycling rules, accepted materials and other waste collection guidelines is available through the Trash section of the Harris County MUD 502 website.

MUD 502 Seeks Water Smart Program Participation

Harris County MUD 502 is also working through the application process for the Water Smart Program, which encourages year-round water conservation and helps residents understand how everyday choices can protect local water supplies.

The program’s goals include increasing awareness of water conservation during both drought conditions and normal weather, helping communities avoid or delay mandatory water rationing, and giving residents practical ways to conserve water indoors and outdoors.

For Towne Lake homeowners, that could mean more education about household leaks, irrigation habits, lawn watering schedules and other routine water-use decisions that can affect both monthly bills and the district’s long-term operating costs.

According to the MUD 502 Board, districts participating in the program have reduced costs, which can translate into lower utility rates and taxes for residents.

A Possible Partnership Among Towne Lake MUDs

Participation may also create opportunities for Harris County MUD 502 to collaborate with other Towne Lake municipal utility districts on community activities required through the Water Smart Program.

That cooperative approach could allow neighboring districts to share educational resources, promote consistent conservation practices and reach more residents across the Towne Lake community.

The district has not yet announced which activities may be offered or when they would begin. The board said additional information will be provided once the Water Smart Program application process is complete.

What Towne Lake Residents Should Know

Residents currently dealing with a damaged Waste Management cart should email cssatex@wm.com and keep the message for their records. General trash, recycling and missed-pickup concerns should still be directed to Waste Management’s customer support number.

Meanwhile, the district’s Water Smart application represents a longer-term effort to connect conservation with financial stewardship. For residents, the value could extend beyond saving water during a drought—it could also help the district manage infrastructure needs, operating expenses, utility rates and property taxes more efficiently.

My Neighborhood News will continue providing updates as Harris County MUD 502 completes the application process and announces any Towne Lake water conservation programs or community activities.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.