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Council awards contract to build city compost yard at Balenzuela landfill
Summary
City awarded a contract to JE Construction Services to build a compost facility at the J.C. Elliott/Balenzuela landfill. The facility will process biosolids and source‑separated organics into compost for parks and city use, and is intended to divert organics from the landfill and reduce long‑term disposal costs.
The City Council approved a construction contract today to build a municipal compost yard at the J.C. Elliott (Balenzuela) landfill. The winning bid came from JE Construction Services of Corpus Christi.
What the project will do: The compost yard will receive biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant and source‑separated organic materials such as curbside brush and certain food wastes. The city will combine organic feedstocks in windrows (long, turned rows of mixed organic material), manage temperature and turnings to meet pathogen reduction standards, and age the product until it becomes a usable soil amendment. Finished compost is planned for use by city parks, athletic fields, TxDOT projects and other municipal landscaping, and will also be available for commercial use.
Why it matters: Composting reduces material sent to landfill cells, extending landfill life and avoiding future cell construction costs. Solid Waste staff said processing up to 80,000 tons annually could move the city toward state diversion goals and reduce operating costs compared with landfilling. Staff also emphasized that the program will not require a change in curbside collection from residents: the project relies on delivery of appropriate organics to the transfer station and on biosolids currently produced by the wastewater system.
Contract and timeline: Council awarded the construction contract to JE Construction Services. Bids were publicly opened and the city reported a competitive procurement with multiple bidders. Construction is expected to take seven months after contract execution; staff said they anticipate the yard will be operational shortly after construction is complete.
Public comment and next steps: Public supporters included local environmental groups and neighbors who urged the city to expand recycling and organics diversion. Staff will publish the construction schedule and begin required post‑award coordination with the contractor and landfill operations to stage equipment and materials.
