By George Slaughter
Katy Police Officer Steve Kelleher reins in the department’s new police dog, Kiko, at Thursday’s City Council meeting as Chief Noe Diaz, back to camera, briefs the council. Photo courtesy Chris Harris
The City of Katy’s recycling policy has changed in recent months due to national events. Katy City Council members Thursday received a briefing about the recycling processes used by the city’s recycling vendor, as well as information about what could and could not be recycled.
In September, the city announced it would no longer accept glass as an item for recycle. The city said the change was due to the decline in exporting recyclables to China. Glass has become less cost-effective to recycle, and as a result, recycling programs are no longer accepting glass.
Officials from Republic Services, the city’s recycling vendor, encouraged the public to visit a Republic web site, http://www.recyclingsimplified.com, that has information and videos about what can be recycled, and the conditions under which those materials can be accepted.
The city accepts only four items in recycling containers: flattened cardboard, metal cans, paper, and plastic bottles and jugs. Cans, bottles, and jugs must be empty, clean, dry, and not bagged.
The city does not accept construction waste, clothing and shoes, diapers, electronics and batteries, food, glass, greasy pizza boxes, medical waste, polystyrene foam, soiled paper, scrap metal, tools, toys, and yard waste for recycling.
“The public should go to the website to learn more information about recycling and the requirements,” Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said. “It’s a worldwide issue that all cities are having to adjust to. I myself am still learning the recycling requirements from the presentation.”
The city’s recently redesigned website also summarizes the recycling policy changes.
This policy affects only City of Katy residents.
Other Actions Taken
In other action Monday, the council:
- Observed a presentation of the Katy Proud Business Award by Keep Katy Beautiful to Adamson Design, 1501 East Ave.
- Accepted a new bomb detection dog for the Katy Police Department. The dog was donated by K9s4Cops.
- Approved the annual City of Katy Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, set for 6:30 p.m. December 5.
- Purchased five 2019 Chevrolet Tahoes from Freedom Chevrolet for $253,055, five camera systems from Coban Technologies for $44,730, and five computers and related equipment for $18, 055, for the Katy Police Department.
- Approved a six-month extension of the preliminary plat for Cane Island, as approved by the City Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Cast a ballot for Mike Sullivan in the Harris County Appraisal District election of its board of directors. Sullivan was the only candidate on the ballot.
- Cast votes for Al Abramczyk, Pam Gaskin, Jim Kij, Michael D. Rozell, and Paul Stamatis in the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District election of its board of directors. The five candidates were standing for five available seats on the board.
- Cast votes for Roosevelt Alexander, John Amsler, Royce Rape, and Rick Welch in the Waller County Appraisal District election of its board of directors.
- Authorized Hastings to sign three right of entry agreements with the West Harris County Regional Water Authority for Well Numbers 11488 (Water Plant # 2, at 5450 Franz Road), 204-FB (Water Plant #3, at 25815 Kingsland Blvd.); and 6024 (Water Plant # 5, at 3300 Katy Hockley Road).
- Authorized Hastings to sign an interlocal agreement between Harris County and the City of Katy, in which the county donated equipment to the Katy Fire Department.
- Amended the city’s employee classification and compensation plan by changing the job description of fire captain and the salary grades and ranges by removing the fire/EMS training captain position.
- Voted, after executive session, to authorize City Administrator Byron Hebert to negotiate and possibly purchase land near Avenue D and 2nd Street for developing green space and parks.