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Council approves EcoWaste franchise to formalize landfill disposal; developers and haulers praise safeguards
Summary
The Nacogdoches City Council unanimously approved a franchise agreement with Live Oak Environmental LLC (doing business as EcoWaste Solutions) allowing up to 1,800 tons of county disposal and assessing an annual franchise fee; staff said the contract gives the city more control over landfill capacity and gate checks.
The Nacogdoches City Council on July 21 approved a franchise agreement with Live Oak Environmental LLC, operating as EcoWaste Solutions, to formalize disposal of solid waste from Nacogdoches County at the city-owned landfill. Mike Neu, the city’s executive director of development and infrastructure, said the agreement establishes capacity controls (1,800 tons) and an annual franchise fee on gross revenues so the city can better track and manage incoming loads.
During discussion, Neu said the franchise will help the city vet incoming haulers, maintain permit and TCEQ compliance, and “manage that capacity and help us build those relationships and know what's coming in and out of our landfill.” Sonny Hubbard, who said he represents EcoWaste’s landfill and hauling operations, told council he has decades of experience in the business and that disposal costs are passed through to customers. “If y'all go up to a $100 a cubic yard, the guy's gonna be paying more garbage bill than they pay electric bill,” Hubbard said.
Council members pressed staff on how the agreement affects county residents and whether hazardous wastes would be accepted. Neu said the city will refuse hazardous materials, continue gate checks and inspections, and can turn away haulers that do not comply with standards. He also noted the landfill expansion the council previously approved (Cells 3 and 4) and emphasized careful management so the city does not prematurely exhaust capacity. The motion to approve the franchise carried unanimously.
The approval follows prior council action to award quality-assurance contracts and to expand landfill cells; staff said the formal agreement replaces a largely informal past arrangement and gives the city tools to enforce disposal rules. The franchise was presented as a tool to protect landfill longevity while allowing existing haulers to continue service under clearer terms. The city did not disclose detailed fiscal modeling for the franchise fee in the meeting presentation.
