Data collected during the waste characterization assessment performed by The North Central Texas Council of Governments in 2020 estimates that approximately 50 percent of the waste stream in the North Central Texas region consists of food and yard waste.  The opportunity costs of not diverting this valuable organic material from the landfill are significant (for the purposes of this project, the term “organic material” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, residential and commercial yard waste, pre- and post-consumer food waste, agricultural waste, and wastewater treatment biosolids).  However, in order to cost-effectively divert organic materials from the landfill, sufficient processing infrastructure (such as composting and anaerobic digestion facilities) within feasible hauling distances must be available. 

The Resource Conservation Council, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for the North Central Texas region, has requested that an Organic Waste Gap Analysis Technical Study (study) be performed in order to identify the disparities between organic materials processing capacity currently available in the region and the processing capacity needed in the region in order to handle current and projected diversion demands.  The study will also include a review and description of siting and other challenges related to developing sufficient organic material processing infrastructure and will identify areas for implementing organic materials diversion efforts, such as recommended pilot projects and partnership opportunities.

A Project Advisory Group, comprised of public and private sector representatives with expertise in organic materials management, was formed to guide the activities of the study.

*The study is being funded through a solid waste management grant provided by TCEQ through NCTCOG. This funding does not necessarily indicate endorsement of the study findings and recommendations.