[USCC] Landfill

[Holcomb, Kelley]

Here in Texas, statutes still allow wood waste to be 
disposed of in landfills. In some larger municipalities, the 
have ordinances that require recycling of the woodwaste, 
effectively blocking landfilling of that material. We have a 
biosolid compost facility and are always searching for 
woodwaste feedstocks. It is common practice for that 
material to be diverted as boiler fuel. 

Recently, there have been two electric generation facilities 
permitted and are currently under construction. These 
facilities have biomass fired boilers. Based on their 
consumption data, we estimate that they will consuming about 
60 to 70 percent of the available woodwaste supply within a 
100 mile radius. Our compost facility is located 62 miles 
from one and 57 miles from the other.

Our only salvation is that the boiler fuel industry requires 
a significantly higher quality material than a typical 
compost facility. We are working diligently with our 
participants via Interlocal Agreements for their material 
generated through their curbside recycling programs. The 
only problem is the amount of trash contained in that 
material. They have been unwilling to take measures to clean 
up the material because of cost. Running out of woodwaste 
may be the catalyst for change in their collective thinking.

Kelley Holcomb