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Environmental Program

Solid Waste

Plan Design—The Regional Plan is designed to coordinate activities between solid waste management programs and other related activities within the region. Furthermore, it establishes goals and objectives within the region for proper collection and disposal of solid waste, reduction of wastes to be landfilled, and establishes an Action Plan for the implementation of these goals and objectives. The plan considers three separate planning periods:


Short Range————————— 2002 – 2007

Intermediate————————— 2007 – 2012

Long Range—————————- 2012 – 2022


Goals—Preliminary regional goals, objectives, and priorities were reviewed, discussed and further developed during monthly public participation meetings held around the region during the planning period. The results indicated the preferred waste management hierarchy given consideration by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for the ATCOG region is as follows:

  1. Source Reduction and Waste Management

  2. Reuse and Recycling (including composting)

  3. Resource Recovery (including burning solid waste to produce energy

  4. Land Disposal


The Solid Waste Advisory Committee at their meeting on September 8, 2006 adopted the Volume I – Regional Solid Waste Management Plan 2002-2022, which outlines Regional Goals and Objectives. Volume I was adopted by the ATCOG Board of Directors on July 25, 2006, and will be reviewed for adoption by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in February, 2007.

Regional Goals and Objectives

The Solid Waste Advisory Committee at their meeting on September 8, 2006 adopted the Volume I – Regional Solid Waste Management Plan 2002-2022, which outlines Regional Goals and Objectives. Volume I was adopted by the ATCOG Board of Directors on July 25, 2006, and will be reviewed for adoption by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in February, 2007. The goals of Volume I are outlined below:

Goal #1: Encourage and promote funding availability for regional, sub-regional, and local implementation of this plan.
Goal #2: Promote source reduction efforts to decrease the amount of solid waste generated.
Goal #3: Promote the maximum development of regional as well as local, integrated, convenient, collection systems.
Goal #4: Promote recycling efforts to decrease the amount of solid waste entering the waste stream.
Goal #5: Promote public education on integrated solid waste management.
Goal #6: Promote enforcement efforts to decrease illegal dumping.
Goal #7: Promote composting of yard waste and sludge within the region.
Goal #8: Utilize existing facilities to the extent environmentally and economically feasible.
Goal #9: Promote development of integrated solid waste management systems.
Goal #10: Encourage sub-regions to allow for more cost effective local plans and regionalization of facilities.
Goal #11: Use the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) permit application process to ensure conformance with the regional plan and reduce environmental and other constraints that impact the siting of future solid waste facilities.

Recommended Action Plan

Minimize household trash Minimize apartment and commercial trash
Establish recycling markets
Coordinate state, regional, and local solid waste management
Stop illegal dumping

Texas Illegal Dumping Resource Center

Basic Environmental Laws

Resources and Links


Please click the following links for additional solid waste information:

RG 389: Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps and Septic Tanks: Questions and Answers

RG 370: Managing Paint and Paint-Related Waste Under the Universal Waste Rule

RG 455: Illegal Dumping: A Guide for Local Governments

RG 474: Methods for Municipal Solid Waste Diversion: Options for Local Governments

RG 469: Traditional Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: A Guide for Local Governments

Federal Clean Air Act

Federal Clean Water Act

Texas Health and Safety Code: Chapter 341, 343, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 368, and 371.

Federal Regulations 40 CFR Parts 240-281

State Regulations Municipal Solid Waste Management Regulations 30 TAC 330

State Regulations General Permitting Rules for Discharge From Any Point Source 30 TAC 305

State Regulations Sludge Rules 30 TAC 312

State Regulations Composting Rules 30 TAC 332

Buy Recycled Program, Texas General Land Office

Texas Recycles TVs   (TRTV) program

Texas Recycles Computers  (TRC) program

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