Plans to expand Houston landfill dropped

WM subsidiary USA Waste of Texas Landfills has withdrawn a permit application to expand a landfill located in a historically Black and Hispanic neighborhood in northwest Houston, Houston Public Media reports.

The action follows years of pushback from residents in the community, including a June 2022 public meeting in which more than 100 residents vocally opposed the expansion.

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In a statement, the landfill operator stated the application was withdrawn due to a realignment of strategic company priorities, saying, “The Hawthorn Park Landfill remains a valuable operating asset and the expansion will be re-evaluated in the future.”

The landfill, located in Houston’s historic Carverdale neighborhood, has been operating at a reduced capacity for the past few years, according to the story. The proposal aimed to expand the landfill to nearly 40 acres in perimeter and to reach about 127 feet in height, allowing it to continue operating for another 46 years.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality expressed an initial intention to approve the application in March 2022, however, in 2023 Harris County announced legal action in an effort to stop the proposed expansion, citing the need for environmental justice.