Longview, Texas, will keep its recycling program after residents urged officials to preserve it.
Longview's City Council was split on whether to end the program during a vote on Sept. 17, which effectively preserved the program.
Here's what to know
City leaders had been weighing whether to scrap Longview's recycling service amid weak usage and confusion over the program's rules. Only 12% of the city's trash customers currently participate, Longview News-Journal reported.
Public feedback did lean strongly toward keeping recycling. About 10 speakers urged the council not to eliminate the service, calling that a step backward for the city and for environmental stewardship. Several argued the main problem is confusion — especially about schedule changes and which materials are accepted — rather than a lack of interest from residents.
More background
Much of the city's recycling confusion traces to a 2024 fire that destroyed the facility Longview had been using, the News-Journal reported. Residents were allowed to use either their trash carts or their recycling carts for garbage on collection day.
A replacement facility began operating in summer 2025, but the restart brought new contamination issues. Trash was ending up in recycling carts, the list of recyclable items changed, and the city adjusted pickup days in an effort to reduce contamination.
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Under the current system, black-lidded trash carts should go out on a resident's normal collection day, and blue-lidded recycling carts should be set by the road the following day. Multiple speakers said many neighbors still place both carts out at once, causing recyclables to wind up in the landfill instead.
Where can I learn more?
These stories cover recycling programs, reusable cup systems, new recycling labels, proposed bottle legislation, and city council conflict.
• In Flint, officials announced the city's largest recycling program in what they called a historic milestone.
• In Aarhus, officials found disposable cups dominated waste streams and launched a citywide reuse system.
• How2Recycle introduced a dynamic QR code to give residents localized recycling instructions.
• In Rhode Island, major companies pushed legislation banning mini liquor bottles amid recycling concerns.
• In Taylor, Texas, residents launched a recall petition drive over city council tensions.
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