Insight Into the Landfill

Burt Woods starts his day breathing in the rotting musk of the Denton landfill while

listening to the first boom of his bird canon keeping away unwanted visitors.

As he starts his trucks engine Woods gets ready to embark on a tour of his second home. What most may think is a junkyard full of trash and dead material is actually a major part of why recycling is possible in Denton.

“I don’t like the D word. The D word is not allowed here because this is not a dump. It’s a landfill. A dump is just an area full of trash and although there is open trash here, a landfill is more productive and helpful to the city. We are a landfill.”

Woods is a Field Services Supervisor for the City of Denton Landfill. His job is to monitor daily operations of the landfill on the ground floor. Operations such as making sure all employees are being safe while operating machinery and on task, that residents are placing their items in the correct bins, giving tours to curious residents, etc.

Denton Solid Waste and Recycling Department oversees the landfill that’s been around for over 60 years. This location receives all of the city’s waste and recyclables. Director of solid waste Brian Boerner said the total of solid waste collected amounts to 1,500 tons a day. Some items that come across the landfill consist of laundry machines, brick, and even tires. While these objects may reach the destination, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can be recycled.

Boerner stresses the facility is not set up for textiles and other metals such as coat hangers and aluminum foil.

UNT student Emma White says it is difficult to recycle while at school because she lives in an apartment with no recycling bins.

“It’s a time thing. I am almost never at my apartment so if I recycle it’s on campus.”

However after learning that residents are able to drop off recyclables at the landfill, White is looking forward to taking advantage of that opportunity.

All filling the massive area with different smells one might need some time to get used to upon first arriving. But for Woods, it’s just another day at the office.