Texas County Sues Law-Violating Wood Recycling Centers

Seeking to prevent fires in mulch and wood recycling centers similar to one that cost the county more than $2 million to extinguish, the Harris County Attorney's Office began suing those types of centers found violating permit laws. The suits began Jan. 22.

Ancillary state District Judge Caroline Baker granted the county and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission an order restraining Copperfield/Cyfair Mulch Supply and Wood Recycling from any outdoor burning at its site.

A massive fire last year at the Wood Resources recycling center in Houston prompted the county fire marshal and other county offices to form a committee to study recycling centers.  (See County Obtains Injunction Against Recycler)

It identified nearly two dozen wood recycling centers in the county, including Copperfield/Cyfair.

The amount of wood and other materials piled at the Copperfield facility made it more of a solid-waste dump than a recycling center, said Assistant County Attorney Roberta Lloyd.

Businesses designated as recycling centers require no state permit. Landfills, however, with piles of materials, require permits and are more closely monitored, lawyers said.

County attorneys are also suing Wood Resources' owners and operator to recover more than $2 million spent putting out the fire. The attorneys say the company's recycling designation was a sham to cover illegal dumping -- an allegation company officials deny. Houston Chronicle