TDS Completes the Region’s First Fully Integrated C&D Facility

Austin, Texas (November 11, 2024) – Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. (TDS) recently announced the completion of a multi-million dollar dedicated Construction and Demolition (C&D) recycling facility in Creedmoor, TX. This project was created in response to the increased demand for C&D recycling processing for commercial construction companies and residential home builders in Austin and the surrounding Central Texas region. 

 

This new C&D processing facility is the only one of its kind in the region and is unique because of the level of increased sophistication, automation, and vertical integration in the sorting process. At the facility, TDS processes a variety of different materials including concrete, aggregates, untreated wood waste, cardboard, plastic, and metal, using advanced technology to create greater efficiency and throughput of materials.

 

In 2015, Austin City Council enacted a “Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling Ordinance”, requiring affected construction and demolition projects to divert C&D debris from landfills. The new TDS C&D recycling facility can process between 25 and 50 tons of waste per hour and is achieving between 60% and 70% diversion for beneficial reuse, which exceeds the ordinance’s minimum 50% diversion requirement.

The City ordinance also requires general contractors to prove compliance and submit records confirming the tons of debris reused or recycled and the tons landfilled, in a recycling report. Affected general contractors’ failure to provide these reports, may be subject to a Class C misdemeanor and fines up to $500 per day, per offense.  To support these general contractors, TDS uses industry leading technology, experienced staff and all on-site resources to support the efforts of private businesses to achieve their waste processing goals. This industry leading processing incorporates automation technology that allows customers to easily access data, report recycling information, ensure compliance with the City of Austin C&D ordinance, and even earn certain certifications, including LEED certification.

 

Texas Disposal Systems has provided C&D recycling, since 2007. To meet the growing demand of development and construction in Central Texas and following Austin’s enactment of the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, in 2015, TDS began planning for the future. Meeting with waste providers and equipment manufacturers across the nation, TDS identified best practices and new technology, which would keep up with processing demands.

 

Construction for the new facility began in 2023 after several years of committed research, design and planning. According to TDS vice president of business development Adam Gregory, this facility was specifically designed to increase the potential for recycling and waste diversion in Central Texas. “Our team saw the rapid expansion happening throughout Central Texas and realized the volume of construction that would be required as our communities and the greater Austin economy continued to expand,” Gregory said. “We envisioned this facility as an innovative, tech-driven resource for companies who were laying strong foundations throughout our communities, and who wanted to do it in the most sustainable way possible. We are proud of the work we’ve done to build the region’s most comprehensive waste processing facility so we can continue to support growth and development in Central Texas and beyond.”

 

Texas Disposal System’s new C&D facility is completely vertically integrated, which also significantly reduces the carbon emissions related to the transport of materials to their final destination at a recycling facility. Once the materials are brought on-site to the Creedmoor C&D processing facility, TDS sends all acceptable recyclable materials to be processed within the appropriate on-site facilities to avoid generating an additional carbon footprint by shipping or transporting the recyclable materials to offsite processors.

 

There are four recycling facilities on site for final processing. These are a Materials Recovery Facility, a Concrete and Aggregate recycling facility, a scrap metal recycling facility, and an active windrow and static pile composting facility. Additionally, the TDSL award winning landfill is on site. This means all materials, once sorted at the new C&D processing facility are sent to facilities on the same property for the next stage of processing.

 

For information on Austin’s Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/cd#.

Okapi Environmental Services Paves The Way For Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium To Become The World’s First TRUE Certified Soccer-Specific Stadium

AUSTIN, Texas (September 27, 2024) – In a groundbreaking achievement, Q2 Stadium, home to Austin FC, Austin’s first Major League Soccer (MLS) team, has earned its Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification, making it the first soccer-specific stadium and fifth sports venue worldwide to achieve this honor. MLS is a men’s professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport’s highest level in the United States. This landmark certification underscores Q2 Stadium’s commitment to sustainability, driven by strategic planning and operational support from Okapi Environmental Services (OES).

TRUE Certification, developed by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), recognizes organizations that implement comprehensive zero waste policies, achieve an average diversion rate of 90% or greater from landfills and adhere to a stringent set of waste reduction criteria. OES played a pivotal role in guiding Q2 Stadium through the certification process, from establishing sustainability goals to implementing innovative procedures.

OES’ dedicated team of credentialed TRUE Advisors provided hands-on consulting, connecting Austin FC officials with vendors who share a commitment to sustainability. Their collaborative efforts led to the creation of an on-site waste processing facility, a mini Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), designed to maximize the efficiency of sorting and recycling operations at Q2 stadium. This facility has enabled Q2 Stadium to achieve and maintain an impressive diversion rate of over 90% from the landfill.

“Okapi has been especially great as we’ve really formalized our zero waste goal. Their team is made up of certified TRUE advisors so we really utilized them to help us with what all the credits mean for TRUE, what we could accomplish and how to get all the TRUE documentation together,” said Nick Otte, Senior Director of Stadium Operations at Austin FC. “Long term, the data they’ve collected for us along with their knowledge on the EcoVisor dashboard has been a really helpful tool.”

As the Official Waste and Recycling Partner of Austin FC, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) has also been instrumental in advancing Q2 Stadium’s sustainability initiatives. Key accomplishments include:

  • Eco Stations: Guiding the selection of waste receptacles, called Eco Stations, that offer clear sorting instructions for fans, staff and athletes. Notably, the trash section is strategically smaller than the recycling and compost sections, encouraging fans to adopt sustainable disposal practices.
  • Trash Goalies: Providing staff to serve as Trash Goalies at the Eco Stations, offering fans real-time guidance on proper waste disposal to enhance their participation in sustainability efforts.
  • Educational Initiatives: Producing an award-winning video featuring a soccer ball navigating through the stadium, visually demonstrating how to sort items into the correct receptacles. This engaging approach helps fans easily identify where to dispose of their waste.

In addition to these initiatives, OES provided a thorough analysis of Q2 Stadium’s waste handling processes and developed a comprehensive guide for measuring sustainability data, helping the stadium track and quantify its success.

“This recognition is a testament to the leadership of Austin FC and Q2 Stadium in championing environmentally responsible practices,” said Matt Hutchings, Chief Operating Officer at OES. “We hope this achievement inspires other sports and entertainment venues to enhance their sustainability efforts and pursue meaningful certifications. Okapi is committed to supporting facilities across the nation in their journey towards waste diversion and sustainability excellence.”

For more information about Okapi Environmental Services and their sustainability initiatives, please visit consulting.okapienvironmental.com.

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About Q2 Stadium
Q2 Stadium is the state-of-the art 20,738-seat, soccer-specific venue that features a natural grass playing surface and a signature canopy structure offering shade and coverage for all seats, while providing an unequaled event atmosphere. Approximately 30% of Q2 Stadium seats (6,000 seats) feature breathable mesh seating technology, making the stadium home to the most breathable mesh seats in a major league venue in the world. Q2 Stadium will host the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in 2025.

Q2 Stadium also features cutting-edge lighting capabilities as the first stadium in the world to install 100% of the field lighting system with tunable RGB LED lights. Q2 Stadium opened in June 2021, when Austin FC played its first MLS match at home on June 19 against the San Jose Earthquakes. Q2 Stadium received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in November 2021, recognizing the commitment to sustainability undertaken in the stadium’s construction and design.

About Texas Disposal Systems
Founded by Bob Gregory, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) is one of the largest independently owned solid waste collection, processing, and disposal companies in the nation. Its fully integrated facility incorporates solid waste disposal, compost production and recycling operations. TDS provides the highest quality and most environmentally friendly services in the best interests of our customers, employees, and the community. Learn more about how TDS helps communities, organizations and schools manage and divert waste to beneficial uses at www.TexasDisposal.com.

Media contact: [email protected]

About Okapi Environmental Services LLC (OES)
OES is a management company with Bob Gregory as the sole member providing executive and support management services to companies owned and controlled by Gregory. These companies include Texas Disposal Systems, Inc., Texas Disposal Systems Landfill, Inc., TDS Land Management, L.P., TDS Environmental Services L.L.C., Texas Landfill Management L.L.C., Txalloy Inc., Creedmoor Pipeline L.L.C., Okapi Leasing L.L.C., and BGICO, LLC. OES will focus on the responsible, profitable growth of each of the companies in its various business ventures. Learn more about OES at www.OkapiEnvironmental.com

Media contact: [email protected]