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Department
Contacts
NEW!
2005 Basic Environmental Laws
SOLID WASTE
Under the authority of Subchapter 0 of the
“Texas Solid Waste Management Regulations”, the Ark-Tex Council of
Governments (ATCOG) has prepared a Regional Solid Waste Management Plan for the
Texas counties in our Region (Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar,
Morris, Red River and Titus). The Regional Solid Waste Plan focuses on the
reduction of the disposal of solid waste. Under the guidance of the Solid Waste
Advisory Committee, the plan defines long term goals and objectives, and
provides funding to cities and counties for projects to meet those goals.
The plan identifies problems, develops goals and objectives,
and recommends action for solid waste management for the time frame 2002 through
2022.
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:
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Short Range————————— 2002 - 2007
Intermediate————————— 2007 - 2012
Long Range—————————- 2012 - 2022
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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:
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Source Reduction and Waste
Management
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Reuse and Recycling (including
composting)
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Resource Recovery (including
burning solid waste to produce energy
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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. 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—
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Minimize household trash |
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Minimize apartment and commercial trash |
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Establish recycling markets |
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Coordinate state, regional, and local solid waste
management |
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Stop illegal dumping |
Texas
Illegal Dumping Resource Center
Solid
Waste Grant Instructions (Word Document)
Solid
Waste Grant Applications (Word Document)
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Resources
WATER
QUALITY
1. The Clean Rivers
Program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is a
state fee-funded program for water quality monitoring, assessment, and
public outreach. It provides citizens the opportunity to approach water quality issues within a watershed or
river basin at the local and regional level. River basin authorities in our
region include the Sulphur
River Basin Authority, Red River
Authority and the Northeast
Texas Municipal Water District.
2. TCEQ lists disposal
methods for household
hazardous waste such as pesticides, paints, cleaners and
batteries. Information on how to dispose of used motor
oil and oil filters is also available through the TCEQ website. Pet
waste can also cause water pollution when it is not disposed of
properly. Yard
waste and grass clippings can also pollute our waters. These
materials can be used as compost.
3. TCEQ water quality
information:
a. Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) homepage
b. TCEQ
Water Quality Information
c. TCEQ
Source Water Protection Program
d. TCEQ
Water Quality Publications
4. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Links and Resources:
a. Environmental
Protection Agency
b. Septic
Systems General Information
(1) EPA
Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (long guide) .pdf
(2) EPA
Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (short guide) .pdf
(3) EPA
Septic System Checklist
c. Surf
Your Watershed
d. Region
6 Water Programs
5. Grow Green Materials:
(a) Available in print from ATCOG
offices. Please contact Paul
Prange at 903.832.8636.
(b) Downloadable .pdf Earth Wise Guides
from EPA:
(1) Lawn Care
(2) Yard Care
(3) Fire Ants
(4) Beneficial Insects
6. Other Water
Quality Links:
a. Earth
911
b. Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas
c. 2006
National Non-Point Source Coordinators Meeting Presentations.pdf
d. NEMO
- Non-Point Education for Municipal Officials
e. Texas
Water Resources Institute
f. Texas
Water Development Board
g. Texas
Water Matters
h. Understanding
the Clean Water Act
i. USGS
Water
Watch
j. Texas
Watch
7. Water Quality Resources for Students and Teachers:
a. EPA
Water Curriculum
b. Environmental
Information and Education for Teachers and Citizens
c. Envirolink
Water Quality
d. Healthy
Water, Healthy People
e. Water
Quality Theme Page
f. River
Basins Environmental Technology Center
g. USGS
Water Science for Schools
h. NOS
Education Discovery Kits From NOAA
Environmental Planning Department Contacts
(903) 832-8636
L.D.
Williamson
Executive
Director
Paul
Prange
Environmental
Resource Planner
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