For Williamsburg Settlement homeowners, recycling is one of the neighborhood services already covered by HOA dues. But making the most of that service takes a little cooperation from everyone, and something as simple as putting recyclables in a plastic bag could mean those materials end up in a landfill instead.

The Williamsburg Settlement Maintenance Association (WSMA) is reminding residents how to recycle properly through Texas Pride Disposal, the neighborhood's waste collection provider. The goal is straightforward: help more recyclable materials reach their intended destination, avoid unnecessary contamination and ensure residents receive the full benefit of a service their HOA dues help fund.

And while most households may already be doing their part, a few common recycling mistakes can affect an entire truckload of materials collected throughout the neighborhood.

Why One Recycling Mistake Can Affect the Whole Neighborhood

One of the most important things Williamsburg Settlement residents should know is that recyclables should never be placed inside plastic bags.

The recycling facility uses a single-stream sorting process, meaning recyclable materials are collected together and separated at the facility. Plastic bags can become tangled in the sorting equipment, creating operational problems.

As a result, materials placed inside plastic bags are sent to the landfill rather than processed for recycling.

There is another concern that makes proper recycling especially important for the neighborhood.

When Texas Pride Disposal delivers a truckload of recyclable materials to the sorting facility, the load is inspected for contamination. According to information provided by the Association, if the contamination rate is determined to exceed 20%, the entire load will typically be diverted to a landfill.

Contamination can result from bagged recyclables, food left inside containers, household trash or items that the recycling facility cannot process.

That means improperly discarded materials from just a handful of households could potentially affect the recycling efforts of many other Williamsburg Settlement neighbors.

Because the recycling service is funded through HOA dues, preventing contamination also helps residents make better use of the money already being spent on neighborhood services.

What Can Williamsburg Settlement Residents Put in Their Recycling Bins?

Fortunately, recycling correctly does not have to be complicated. The recycling guidelines provided to residents identify several common household materials that belong in curbside recycling bins.

Accepted recyclable materials include:

• Plastic bottles and containers: Empty acceptable plastic bottles and containers, such as those used for beverages and household products.

• Flattened cardboard and paperboard: Shipping boxes, cereal boxes and similar clean cardboard packaging.

• Food and beverage cans: Empty aluminum and steel cans.

• Paper: Common recyclable paper products.

• Glass bottles and containers: Empty glass bottles and jars.

Before placing these items in the recycling bin, residents should empty any remaining contents and rinse food or beverage containers as needed.

Most importantly, recyclables should be placed loose and directly into the recycling bin, not inside a plastic bag.

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Common Items That Should Never Go in the Recycling Bin

Some household items may seem recyclable because of the materials they contain, but they can interfere with the sorting process or contaminate otherwise acceptable materials.

According to the recycling guidance shared with the neighborhood, residents should keep the following items out of their curbside recycling bins:

• Plastic grocery bags, plastic film, flexible packaging and bagged recyclables

• Styrofoam cups, food containers and packaging

• Food scraps, liquids and dirty containers containing food

• Shoes, clothing, pillows, bedding, rugs and carpet

• Ceramics, cookware, pots and pans

• Batteries, electronics and small appliances

• Holiday lights, extension cords, hangers and other items that can tangle in sorting equipment

• Paper napkins, tissues and used paper plates

• Yard waste, branches and other green waste

• Construction debris, wood, concrete, tires and automotive parts

Some of these materials may be accepted through separate donation programs, retailer collection services or specialized recycling facilities, but they should not be placed in Williamsburg Settlement's regular curbside recycling bins.

Residents looking for alternative disposal options can explore resources such as Earth911 to locate recycling programs for certain household materials.

When in Doubt, Throw It Out

It can be tempting to place an unfamiliar item in the recycling bin and hope the sorting facility can process it. Unfortunately, this practice can do more harm than good.

The Association is encouraging residents to remember one simple rule: "IF IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT!" 😉

If an item is not clearly accepted under the recycling guidelines, placing it in the regular trash is preferable to risking contamination of an entire recycling load. For items requiring special disposal, such as batteries or electronics, residents should use an appropriate collection or drop-off program rather than household trash.

Taking a few extra seconds to check an item before discarding it can help protect the recycling efforts of neighbors throughout Williamsburg Settlement.

Recycling Pickup in Williamsburg Settlement Is on Mondays Only

Another important reminder concerns the neighborhood's recycling collection schedule.

Texas Pride Disposal collects recycling in Williamsburg Settlement on Mondays only, not Thursdays.

Residents are asked to place their recycling bins at the curb for Monday collection and return the empty containers to their proper storage locations as soon as reasonably possible after pickup.

Leaving empty recycling bins at the curb for several days can detract from the neighborhood's appearance and create unnecessary clutter along residential streets.

Promptly returning containers after collection is a small courtesy that helps keep Williamsburg Settlement's streets and shared surroundings looking their best.

A Little Extra Care Can Make a Big Difference

Recycling is one of those neighborhood services that works best when everyone participates responsibly. Families who carefully separate their recyclables, rinse containers and follow collection guidelines are helping make the service worthwhile for the entire community.

For Williamsburg Settlement residents, the takeaway is simple: keep recyclables loose, make sure containers are empty and clean, leave non-recyclable materials out of the bin and remember that recycling collection takes place on Mondays.

These everyday habits can help prevent recyclable materials from being unnecessarily sent to the landfill while protecting the value of a service residents already support through their HOA dues.

Residents can review additional information through the Williamsburg Settlement Maintenance Association's trash and recycling webpage, which includes guidance from Texas Pride Disposal.

By working together and paying attention to what goes into each recycling bin, Williamsburg Settlement neighbors can help make their community's recycling program more effective for everyone.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more Williamsburg Settlement HOA updates, neighborhood reminders and helpful information about the services that support the community.

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.

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