Fort Worth plans $4.8 million in drop-off upgrades, a reuse pilot and new compactors under SWIFFR grant

At the Jan. 13 Property Management and Environmental Services Committee meeting, Avery Pesik, senior management analyst in the Environmental Services Department, presented details of a $4,800,000 award through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFFR) program to improve drop-off stations and expand recycling programs.

Pesik said the proposed allocation includes about $1,000,000 for a pilot reuse program and expanded recycling education, $550,000 for new recycling compactors (up to 10 compactors), $133,000 for new electronic signage and about $3,100,000 for construction improvements at the Old Hemphill drop-off station. He noted the $3.1 million figure comes from a study and said staff will update quotes to confirm construction costs.

The pilot reuse program will begin at Hillshire and expand to other drop-off stations. Pesik said the program will accept items such as furniture, electronics and building materials that still have usable life; residents will be able to claim those items free of charge initially, and items unclaimed after a holding period will be offered to local nonprofits including the Wellman Project, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Goodwill. Pesik said nonprofits will retain priority for bicycles.

Pesik also described physical improvements planned for Old Hemphill's scrap metal recycling area, including new concrete surfacing, a retaining wall to reduce flooding, improved fencing to deter break-ins and traffic-flow changes to improve resident safety. He said the station is the city's oldest and highest-use drop-off location (about 123,000 visits in fiscal year 2025) and that upgrades will directly improve resident experience.

Pesik said the city currently sees roughly a 27% contamination rate in single-stream recycling and that the grant will support more visible messaging and targeted outreach to reduce contamination.

On timing, Pesik said the SWIFFR grant period is three years and staff will start with equipment purchases and quick improvements while updating construction estimates. During questions, Pesik said improvements to Old Hemphill will focus on the scrap-metal area and the department does not anticipate extended closures of the site; committee members requested a follow-up review of operating hours to balance resident access and staff scheduling. A member also noted staff are coordinating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the award and may seek adjustments to the allocation to account for inflation; staff said they would report back if plans change.

The committee did not take formal action; the chair closed the meeting and said the city manager will be asked to schedule a presentation to council on data centers and infrastructure impacts.