ETCOG Environmental Resources

Authority of ETCOG to Develop the Regional Plan

The U.S. Congress passed the Solid Waste Disposal Act in 1965, authorizing the research and development of solid waste disposal systems. In 1989, the 71st Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1519 stipulating that solid waste management plans must be developed by regional planning agencies and local governments. Thus, ETCOG became the designated municipal solid waste planning agency for its 14-county region. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) is the designated state agency for municipal solid waste planning.

Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the Plan is to provide guidelines for current and future solid waste management to local governments in the region. The State requires that the Regional Plan give preference, to the maximum extent economically and technologically feasible, to the hierarchy of management methods for solid waste, from the most preferred to the least preferred (30 TAC Chapter 330, Subchapter O):

• source reduction and minimization of waste;

• reuse or recycling of waste;

• treatment to destroy or reprocess waste for energy or resource recovery; and

• land disposal.

The Planning Process

According to the requirements of Subchapter O, ETCOG convened an advisory committee to provide input, review, and comment during the development of the Regional Plan. This advisory committee, called the Regional Solid Waste Task Force (RSWTF), includes representatives of the TNRCC, public officials from various local governments, private operators, citizen groups, and interested individuals.

The Task Force and the ETCOG Executive Committee reviewed consulting firms who proposed to complete the Plan. A joint proposal from Freese and Nichols, Inc. and R.W. Beck and Associates was selected. The consultant in turn worked in conjunction with ETCOG staff and the Task Force in completing the Plan.

Various public meetings and public hearings were held in the region, in which the consultant, ETCOG staff, Task Force members, local government representatives, and the general public participated. Comments on the findings of the Plan and its recommendations were incorporated into the final document.

The Executive Committee approved the Plan on August 12, 1993, and forwarded it to the TWC (now TNRCC). The plan was approved through a rule-making process in accordance with the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-13a. This included publication of the proposed action of adoption in the Texas Register and a 30-day comment period. The Regional Plan was finally adopted by TNRCC in May 1994. The effective period of the Regional Plan 1991 to 2015.

Plan Contents

The Plan consists of three parts. Part I is the Plan Overview, Part II is the Region Analysis and Part III is the Region Recommendations and Action Plan. Technical Appendices A and B include the five Workpapers developed for the Plan. These Workpapers contain the information from which the Plan was derived including much more detailed information from solid waste surveys within the region.

The Plan Overview describes the background of the planning process and describes the purpose and objectives of the Plan. The Region Analysis provides the basic data on existing conditions within the Region that was used to develop the remainder of the Plan. The current solid waste management scenarios including recycling, composting, incineration, transfer, and disposal of solid waste were developed and analyzed. As an outcome of this analysis, four solid waste management options were identified for development and recommendations. This Plan also includes Region Recommendations and an Action Plan. These sections describe the recommended changes to be made in the current solid waste management system between 1991 and 2015. Each recommendation has a timetable for implementation and a responsible entity that will lead a particular effort. The recommendations and action plan are based on the following goals and objectives proposed by the Task Force.

portation and disposal opportunities for all areas of the Region.

1A. Ensure that collection services are provided for all cities in the Region as well as all unincorporated areas in counties with populations greater than or near 30,000.

1B. Ensure that putrescible wastes are picked up at least once per week.

1C. Evaluate the possible need for transfer stations in the Region.

1D. Landfill space should be provided for the 25 year planning period.

1E. Identify preferred strategies for disposal of waste remaining after recycling, composting and other waste minimization activities, including municipal solid waste incineration, waste-to-energy and landfilling, where technologically, economically and politically feasible.

1F. Develop alternative management strategies for construction, demolition and other bulky wastes to conserve existing disposal capacity.

GOAL 2: Develop programs to control illegal dumping in incorporated and unincorporated areas and manage special wastes.

2A. Convenient collection and disposal should be provided to residents in unincorporated areas to reduce the amount of illegal dumping.

2B. Alternative management methods for special materials should be pursued to decrease undesirable management methods such as landfilling sludge or grit trap wastes. For example, beneficial reuse of sludge is strongly endorsed by the ETCOG Solid Waste Task Force.

2C. Recycling and processing opportunities should be pursued for special wastes.

2D. Develop an education and awareness program and a technical assistance program at the regional level to encourage proper management practices for special and problem waste (particularly tires, bulky wastes, municipal sludge, household hazardous waste and small quantity generator hazardous waste).

GOAL 3: Develop and encourage cost effective recycling, composting, source reduction and other waste minimization activities taking place in the Region.

3A. Regional recycling goals should be developed.

3B. Need to identify existing recycling markets and develop strategies to improve recyclable markets for the Region.

3C. Increase recycling and source reduction for the Region.

3D. Assess waste-to-energy options, especially options including existing facilities.

3E. Study existing composting activities in the Region and develop more effective programs for the Region.

GOAL 4: Develop and evaluate institutional arrangements affecting waste management.

4A. Define the role of Solid Waste Management Districts in management of solid waste within the Region.

4B. Evaluate the need for more public sector involvement in municipal solid waste management.

4C. Consider potential impacts of present and future legislation.

4D. Define roles and responsibilities of River Authorities that have some involvement with municipal solid waste management in the Region.

4E. Identify preferred administrative structure at the regional level for multi-jurisdictional municipal solid waste management programs in the Region.

GOAL 5: Coordinate Regional Plan implementation and encourage local planning activities

5A. Determine the need for sub-regional plans.

5B. Develop education/awareness programs at the regional level to encourage the overall municipal solid waste management system.

5C. Responsibilities for Plan implementation should be clearly defined so that portions of the Plan are not overlooked.

5D. Develop regional programs to facilitate cooperative and standardized approaches to providing municipal solid waste management services (including source reduction, waste minimization, reuse and recycling services) and to facilitate selecting disposal options.

5E. Develop a regional program to help local governments as well as private non-profit entities pursue state and federal funding sources for municipal solid waste management programs.

Plan Implementation

First, the Plan offers: 1) a descriptive basis of information to help local governments in their planning efforts; 2) a set of strategies for addressing common regional problems in solid waste management and for promoting coordinated approaches; and 3) a framework for a continuing regional approach in evaluating solid waste management issues in upcoming years.

Second, the TNRCC shall consider provisions of the Plan when reviewing an application for a permit for a facility to be located in the area affected by the Plan. Furthermore, public and private solid waste management activities and state regulatory activities within the geographical boundaries where the Plan is applicable shall conform to the adopted Plan during its effective period.

ETCOG is responsible for coordinating many of the recommended actions in the Plan. However, this coordination is dependant on the availability of funds from the TNRCC which are collected from fees on the disposal of solid waste.

Printed on paper that contains 60% recycled fibers

including a minimum of 30% postconsumer wastepaper content

 The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is designated by the State of Texas as the regional planning agency for municipal solid waste in the region.