Land Management
Recycling
and Waste
Reduction
Information
Port Houston is committed to making positive impacts on the land and water around the Houston Ship Channel. We care for our natural resources and want to cultivate them for wildlife and humans alike.
Recycling
Port Houston’s goal is to reduce the volume of solid waste through the implementation of waste reduction and recycling programs.
| Media | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALUMINUM | 0.85 | 0.76 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| CARDBOARD | 27.71 | 25.60 | 1 | 86 | 35 | 20 |
| CONCRETE | 102,207 | 56,398 | 93,297 | 74,000 | 68,003 | 255,845 |
| ELECTRONICS | 7.22 | 10.29 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 6.6 |
| OFFICE PAPER | 57.46 | 61 | 39 | 59 | 71 | 62 |
| PLASTIC | 1.34 | 1.32 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| SCRAP METAL | 606.71 | 480.75 | 691 | 1.3 | 587 | 824 |
| SCRAP TIRES | 133.66 | 115.98 | 107 | 66 | 63 | 73 |
| WOOD DUNNAGE | 305.72 | 298.88 | 18 | 17 | 24 | 1,162 |
| USED OIL (gallons) | 23,615 | 45,076 | 14,528 | 19,000 | 13,860 | 8,525 |
Environmental Audits and Inspections
To further its sustainability efforts, the Environmental Affairs division at Port Houston performs environmental compliance audits at Port properties. These audits allow our team to monitor and assess activities related to environmental compliance.
Dredge Material Area Management
Maintaining the channel requires regular dredging to remove silt that settles along the dug channel. Annually, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removes silt, clay, and sand from the channel, tests for compliance with environmental standards, and relocates it to a dredge material placement area.
Port Houston repurposes dredged materials for beneficial uses that support local communities, wildlife, and ecosystems. Learn more about the environmental benefits of dredge material area management below.