SCS develops solid waste management plan for Texas city

The city council of New Braunfels, Texas, has approved a comprehensive solid waste management plan (CSWMP), developed by SCS Engineers' Bedford, Texas, office. It addresses the city’s solid waste needs over a 20-year planning period.

The plan, developed by SCS in conjunction with city staff, addresses the capacities at existing waste management facilities, the city’s desire to increase waste diversion and waste reduction and the need to control costs using a long-term financial plan.

SCS worked closely with the city’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division (SWRD) to develop the plan.

According to SCS, CSWMPs are valuable because they identify short-, medium- and long-term goals as well as the policies, programs and facilities that will help a jurisdiction meet its goals. However, the plans require knowledge of solid waste management, reduction and reuse programs, recycling markets, collection and routing to be successful.

SCS says financial planning plays a significant role in maintaining sufficient funding to support the CSWMP. Communication, education and outreach strategies encourage coordination regarding solid waste issues among the public, agencies and private firms in New Braunfels and the region supporting residential and commercial solid waste management.

The city says it selected SCS because the firm has successfully designed and launched comprehensive solid waste planning for clients across the nation and because it is a local firm. In recent years, SCS has completed CSWMPs for other municipalities in Texas, including Killeen and Waco.

The plan meets SWRD’s criteria and takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental issues of various solid waste management policies and programs unique to New Braunfels, according to a news release from SCS.

By identifying specific interim goals, the city says it has the flexibility to change course if there are significant local and regional changes during the planning period. SCS says the plan supports the development of best practices to serve the current and future needs of New Braunfels in the most fiscally responsible and efficient manner possible.

An article published in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung details the plan over the next five, 10 and 20 years. It states the city does not expect immediate changes.