The city of Fort Worth is undertaking one of the largest green initiatives yet with the development of a comprehensive solid waste management plan. 

The plan will serve as a blueprint for how waste is handled and managed in Cowtown for the next 20 years. The previous plan – created in 1995 – addressed a number of issues, including ensuring adequate landfill space. This time around, the city is looking to involve all residents of Fort Worth to answer tougher questions:

• What is waste, and what part of waste is a resource?

• Which resources can we recapture for value, and what’s the best way to do that?

• What behaviors are Fort Worth residents and businesses willing to adopt to make a greener city?

Just the facts

Fort Worth is growing

• It’s grown by 50 percent over the last 20 years.

• Residential waste only comprises about one third of all of the waste generated within the city.

• Industrial, commercial and institutional waste comprises the remaining two-thirds.

Making progress

The city’s goal is to divert 40 percent of residential waste away from the landfill through recycling and other programs.

• Prior to 2003, the city diverted 7 percent of waste.

• In 2013, the city diverted 24 percent. 

Goals

• Evaluate and address all waste produced within the city not just the residential waste.

• Consider emerging technologies and sustainable practices in managing our solid waste as both practices and technologies have changed significantly since 1995.

• Determine if the city has the best available technology in place.

• Move beyond traditional waste management programs and find the best material management solutions for the city’s future.