Recycling “diversion” discovered in Dallas area

Several media outlets in the Dallas area have reported that more than 8,000 tons of residential recyclables collected in 2014, 2015 and early 2016 were diverted to landfills rather than being taken to material recovery facilities (MRFs).

A report on the Dallas Morning News website indicates that Houston-based Waste Management Inc. (WM) has acknowledged that its own internal audit uncovered the practice, which involved collection routes in 14 cities and townships in north Texas near Dallas.

The company reportedly fired five managers in mid-February who WM held responsible for the misdirected trucks.

The Morning News report indicates more than 8,300 tons of recyclables were believed to have been taken to landfills, some of them coming from suburban communities with 55 and 60 percent recycling participation rates.

A spokesperson for WM operations in that region is quoted as saying, “We’ve never had this happen before,” and that retraining is currently underway for truck drivers and others involved in the collection programs.