Most Houston residents have started seeing a new $5 monthly solid waste administration fee on their September water bill, a charge city leaders say is meant to help stabilize a household sanitation service system that has drawn years of complaints about missed pickups and inconsistent service.

But Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi said the fee, at least for now, is not designed to fully pay for the system and he said the city's overall costs far exceed what the new charge will bring in.

"You know, ultimately five bucks, first of all, is not going to cover the cost of the operation," Macchi said in an interview to ENOUGH's Joel Eisenbaum.