Natural Resources Advisory Committee

TCOG
Sherman, Texas
903/813-3550
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Current Regional Solid Waste Plan Recommendations

This page contains a list of all 55 recommendations in the Texoma Plan along with the general timeframe for their implementation, responsible parties as envisioned by the Plan itself, and related materials. Although the wording of these recommendations is exactly that contained in the Texoma Plan, please refer to the Plan itself for the supporting materials. The locations at which the Texoma Plan is deposited are listed on the Plan home page.

A document in Adobe Acrobat format is also available here that contains a listing of all Plan recommendations.

The text below appearing in black are the recommendations as written in the Plan. The text in blue (Lead Entity and Funding) are as shown in that potion of the Plan entitled "Chapter 6: Action Plan."

Goal 1: REGIONALLY, ASSURE ADEQUATE LEVELS OF TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL CAPABILITIES.

Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 years):

1.1

The following disposal strategies should be cooperatively assessed by local governments in each county.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

Option #1:
Cooke County: One public landfill
Fannin County: One public landfill
Grayson County: One public landfill and one private landfill. The private landfill would serve Grayson County and imported waste as determined by the private operator.

Option #2:
One public landfill and one private landfill to serve the region. The private landfill would also accept imported waste as determined by the private operator.

Option #3:
One private landfill to served the entire region and waste imported from outside the region, as determined by the private operator. Two transfer stations in operation to continue and additional transfer stations to be developed.

1.2

Management methods for grease/grit trap and other liquids prohibited from landfill disposal under Subtitle D shall be assessed by SWAC.
Lead Entity: SWAC and landfill owners
Funding: None required

1.3

Each city government should ensure that convenient MSW collection service is provided, at least weekly, in its jurisdiction.
Lead Entity: Local governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

1.4

Each county government should ensure that convenient MSW collection service is provided in its jurisdiction on at least a weekly basis.
Lead Entity: County governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

1.5

Transfer stations should be operated in counties without any State-permitted disposal facilities to the extent needed to support a disposal alternative.
Lead Entity: Cities permitting facilities
Funding: TBD by Cities

1.6

At least one publicly owned permitted MSW receiving facility should be operated in each county that is accessible to the general public and other private haulers that live or operate within the county.
Lead Entity: SWAC, Local Governments
Funding: State planning grants to facilitate local planning. If new facility is planned, Water Development Board may be source of new monies.

Medium-Term Recommendations (6-10 years):

1.7

Assess the need for additional publicly permitted disposal capacity within the region.
Lead Entity: SWAC, Local Governments
Funding: State planning grants

1.8

Local governments in rural areas should cooperatively work toward standardization of MSW collection and transportation services.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and Local Governments
Funding: TBD by Regional Coordinator and County Governments

Long-Term Recommendations (11-25 years):

1.9

Need for additional disposal capacity should be monitored in the region.
Lead Entity: Regional Solid Waste Coordinator
Funding: TBD, TCOG should monitor available grant funding at State level.

1.10

Waste-to-energy and mixed waste composting should be given preference to land filling to the extent technically and economically feasible.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and SWAC
Funding: TBD by Regional MSW Coordinator and SWAC

Goal 2: DEVELOP LOCAL SOURCE REDUCTION, WASTE MINIMIZATION, REUSE, RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING PROGRAMS TO CONSERVE DISPOSAL CAPACITY AND RESOURCES

Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 years):

2.1

A study should be performed to evaluate regional collection, transportation, processing and marketing options including options for residential, commercial and institutional recycling.
Lead Entity: TCOG, SWAC
Funding: TCOG should apply for State funding for this endeavor

2.2

Develop a regional material recovery facility within the region to receive and consolidate recyclable material.
Lead Entity: SWAC, Local Governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments. facility could be funded by private enterprise.

2.3

At a minimum, drop-off collection centers for recyclables should be provided to each incorporated city of 1,000 or greater population and at each county collection center.
Lead Entity: Local governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments. One source for facility development could be CDBG grants.

2.4

At a minimum, one yard-waste composting site should be provided in each county at existing landfill sites.
Lead Entity: Local Governments, MSW facility operators
Funding: TBD by owners of facilities

2.5

Technical assistance should be provided to local governments, businesses and institutions in identifying and implementing source reduction, waste minimization, reuse and recycling strategies.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator
Funding: State funding for MSW Coordinators

2.6

Local Governments and school districts should adopt internal source reduction, reuse, recycling and recycled content procurement policies and programs.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and Local Governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

2.7

Education/awareness programs targeting proper methods or preparing recyclables, identifying collection locations for recyclables in the region and encouraging consumers to "precycle" and "buy recycled" should be implemented.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and TCOG
Funding: Included in duties associated with Regional MSW Coordinators funded by State Grants

2.8

Education/awareness programs targeting preferred options for yard waste reduction/management should be implemented.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and TCOG
Funding: Included in activities of regional MSW Coordinators funded by State Grants

2.9

Assistance in marketing recyclables and compost/mulch products and developing such markets should be provided.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and State
Funding: State funding

2.10

Assistance in procuring products with recycled content should be provided.
Lead Entity: TCOG, the State, Local Governments and special districts
Funding: State assistance

2.11

The amount of MSW diverted from disposal through source reduction, waste minimization, reuse and recycling programs in the Texoma region should be estimated on an annual basis and publicized.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and TCOG
Funding: State Planning Implementation Grants

2.12

The region should support, encourage and benefit from State-level recyclables market development efforts.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator, TCOG and Local Governments
Funding: State funded study

2.13

Recyclables and compost/mulch market development efforts should be coordinated with other economic development efforts.
Lead Entity: TCOG and Local Governments
Funding: TBD by TCOG and Local Governments

Medium-Term Recommendations (6-10 years):

2.14

More aggressive waste reduction programs should be implemented as needed to meet 25% recycling goals to the extent technically possible and economically feasible.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and SWAC
Funding: TBD by SWAC and Local Governments

2.15

Financial incentives to increase waste reduction should be considered.
Lead Entity: SWAC and Local Governments
Funding: Local Governments

2.16

More aggressive waste reduction programs should be implemented as needed to meet 40% recycling goals to the extent technically possible and economically feasible.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator, SWAC and Local Governments
Funding: TBD

Goal 3: DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ASSIST REGIONAL AND LOCAL ENTITIES IN CONTROLLING AND STEMMING ILLEGAL AND IMPROPER DISPOSAL PRACTICES

Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 Years):

3.1

Education/awareness programs for citizens discouraging illegal dumping, open burning and other improper disposal practices should be implemented.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and TCOG
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

3.2

Education/awareness programs should be developed to inform residents about alternatives to hazardous home products and proper disposal methods for household hazardous waste.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

3.3

Education/awareness programs should be developed to inform small quantity generators of hazardous waste and infectious medical waste about proper management practices.
Lead Entity: State, facilitated by TCOG, private haulers and Local Governments
Funding: State Funding

3.4

Local Governments should develop plans for management of special waste.
Lead Entity: Local Governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

3.5

Technical assistance should be provided to Local Governments, businesses and institutions in identifying and implementing proper management practices for special and problem wastes.
Lead Entity: TCOG, State
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

3.6

Each county within the region should develop and maintain litter abatement programs to reduce amount of illegal dumping in rural areas.
Lead Entity: TCOG, County Governments
Funding: State Grant Funding, Fines, Other TBD by Counties

3.7

A regional "dumpstoppers" hotline and reward system should be used to encourage citizens to anonymously report illegal dumping and other improper disposal practices.
Lead Entity: State Regulatory Agency
Funding: State Funds

3.8

Economic incentives should be provided to encourage local businesses to accept used oil and oil filters from do-it-yourself oil changes.
Lead Entity: Local Governments, facilitated by TCOG
Funding: State Assistance

3.9

Large appliances, furniture, tires and source-separated wood waste should be accepted at all MSW management facilities, collected in every city and county, and recycled or reused to the greatest extent technically and economically feasible.
Lead Entity: MSW Facility Owners, Local Governments
Funding: TBD by Local Governments

3.10

Local Governments and school districts should insure that lead-acid batteries, waste oil and used oil filters from their fleets are recycled.
Lead Entity: Local Governments
Funding: Local Governments

3.11

Success of programs to encourage proper management of special and problem wastes should be monitored.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

Medium-Term Recommendations (6-10 Years):

3.12

Household hazardous waste and small quantity generated waste collection should be available in the region.
Lead Entity: TCOG, State
Funding: TBD

3.13

Special and problem wastes should be minimized, reused or recycled to the extent technically and economically feasible.
Lead Entity: TCOG, Local Governments
Funding: TBD

Goal 4: DEVELOP REGIONAL COST-EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUITABLE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 Years):

4.1

Existing regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) should be maintained as a standing TCOG committee.
Lead Entity: TCOG should facilitate meetings
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.2

New appointments to the SWAC should be approved by the SWAC and the TCOG Executive Board.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.3

SWAC shall determine the need for establishment of subregional plans.
Lead Entity: SWAC, Local Governments
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.4

MSW management should be coordinated at the regional level and a regional coordinator should be designated.
Lead Entity: TCOG, SWAC
Funding: State Funds

4.5

Implementation of regional plan should be monitored at the regional level.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator, SWAC
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.6

Periodic newsletter on solid waste topics should be published in the region.
Lead Entity: TCOG, Regional MSW Coordinator
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.7

Local Government officials, facility/service operators and generators should be educated about changes in State MSW laws, regulations and policies.
Lead Entity: TCOG, Regional MSW Coordinator
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.8

Regional clearinghouse on State and Federal MSW laws, regulations and policies should be established.
Lead Entity: TCOG, State
Funding: State Funds

4.9

SWAC should provide input to State officials on solid waste management issues important to the region.
Lead Entity: SWAC
Funding: TBD as needed

4.10

Local, State and Federal funding sources should be tracked at the regional level.
Lead Entity: Regional MSW Coordinator and TCOG
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds

4.11

Assistance to Local Governments in the preparation of applications for MSW management funding sources should be provided at the regional level.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: TBD by TCOG

4.12

SWAC should review and comment on MSW grant applications to the State.
Lead Entity: SWAC, TCOG
Funding: TBD by TCOG

4.13

General/MSW/Management education/awareness campaign should be implemented in the region.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Planning Grant Funds applied for by TCOG

Medium-Term Recommendations (6-10 Years):

4.14

4.14 The regional plan should be updated at least every five years.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Funds

4.15

4.15 Additional education/awareness programs should be developed at the regional level to support MSW management programs in the region and encourage proper management practices.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Funds

Long-Term Recommendations (11-25 Years):

4.16

Regional plan should continue to be updated.
Lead Entity: TCOG
Funding: State Funds

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Copyright 1999, 2000 Texoma Council of Governments
Last updated: 11/22/06