research & news
Missing the Mark
We examined the benchmarks for more than 80 pollutants in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Missississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and at the federal level. We have found that Texas benchmarks are substantially weaker than those used in other nearby states. As a result, many sites that could be eligible for Superfund status in other states are not being remediated at all in Texas. Sites that do undergo cleanup in Texas may still be polluted at levels that would require more cleanup in other states.
Opponents say planned ExxonMobil plastics plant would devastate Gulf Coast environment
Corpus Christi Caller-Times: A proposed plastics manufacturing facility in San Patricio County would be an environmental nightmare and fall short of its economic forecasts, according to environmental groups.
Neighbors gear up to oppose Austin Community Landfill expansion
KXAN News Austin: Wednesday, people living in Northeast Austin and Travis County gathered at Barr Mansion to align their vision for stopping an expansion of the Austin Community Landfill.
Op-Ed: This new coastal alliance aims to protect South Texas’ natural gifts
Corpus Christi Caller-Times Op-Ed: The quality of life in the Coastal Bend now faces its greatest challenge. It has been targeted as fertile ground for an industrial build-out that will impact the entire region.
Travis County works to address lack of recycling receptacles at 26 area parks
Community Impact: Travis County staff will start the process of creating the solid-waste management plan that will provide a suggested timeline to expand recycling services.
Victory! Austin Parks Will Have Recycling
From our blog: Over the next two years every park, pool, rec center, cultural facility, sports field, and trail in the Austin will have recycling everywhere they have trash bins. Learn how support from YOU and thousands of Central Texans has made this huge victory possible!
Grand Prairie industrial site that leaked cancer-causing chemicals under homes gets Feds’ attention
Dallas Morning News: A Grand Prairie industrial site that leaked cancer-causing chemicals has been placed on the Superfund National Priorities List, which features some of the nation’s most polluted sites.
Report: Texas criteria for polluted site cleanup ‘significantly weaker’ than neighboring states
Texas Tribune: A report by TCE Fund says the standards Texas uses to determine how much — and whether — to clean up contaminated sites are ‘significantly weaker’ than those of neighboring states and the federal government.
Franchise Agreements & Recycling in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex – 2018
TCE Fund’s Franchise Agreements and Recycling in DFW report examines municipal solid waste and recycling hauling contracts in the DFW region and provides insights for public officials who are looking to improve waste reduction and minimization.
Dallas-Fort Worth State of the Region Recycling Report – Winter 2018 Update
TCE Fund’s 2017 Winter 2018 Update to its DFW State of the Region Recycling Report examines the latest data on resource management, case studies, and public data to identify a path for zero waste in North Texas.