Texas Wildfires of 2011
Much of this information is focused on the Bastrop-area wildfire of the Labor Day weekend. If you were affected by a wildfire elsewhere, call the TCEQ regional office that serves your county.
Managing Waste
Follow these guidelines to dispose of wildfire wastes properly:
- Think recycling first!
- If it isn't recyclable, find an appropriate landfill.
- Follow our guidelines for disposing of these wastes typically produced by wildfires:
If you have questions, contact the TCEQ regional office that serves your county. Also, be sure to check with local authorities for their guidance.
Think Recycling First!
Although most materials are not recyclable if damaged by fire, much of the metal, brick, and other debris might be recyclable.
Before you haul anything to a recycling center, call to find out:
- What materials they will accept
- Whether they will accept materials damaged by fire
- Whether they charge a fee for recycling (This depends on the material and its condition. If the material is valuable enough, they might pay you for it.)
On the Bastrop County website you can find a list of Bastrop-area recyclers. 
Elsewhere, contact local authorities for more information or search the Web for "recycling," your town's name, and "Texas."
Find an Appropriate Landfill
Many wastes can and should be taken to the landfill. Use the guidance below and these lists of landfills to find an appropriate landfill near you:
- Active MSW Landfills in Texas —A list by county.
- Landfills Near the Bastrop-Complex Wildfires —Tells which of these landfills may accept carcasses.
Disposing of Typical Wastes from Wildfires
Wildfires typically produce large volumes of ash, a great deal of debris, and, sadly, carcasses.
Follow these guidelines for disposing of these wastes properly.
Disposing of Ash
Disposing of Ash from Residential Structures. Unless local ordinances forbid it, you may bury ash from your home on your own property. You may also take it to a municipal solid waste (MSW) Type I or Type IV landfill.
Ash from businesses may also be taken to a landfill unless the business generated Class 1 industrial waste.
If your business did generate Class 1 industrial waste, call the landfill or the TCEQ regional office that serves your county to find out if you first need authorization from us before the landfill may accept the ash.
See lists of landfills above.
Cleaning up Debris
Remember, some of the debris produced by a wildfire could be recyclable. Follow these guidelines to separate debris according to type and dispose of it properly:
- Managing Debris from Texas Wildfires
- Request for Approval of Temporary Debris Management Site —This form is used by local authorities to ask for permission to set up debris-collection stations.
See lists of landfills above.
Disposing of Carcasses
- Disposing of Animal Carcasses —This brief guide focuses on the best options available after a wildfire.
- Affidavit for Animal Carcass Burial —The "Form Affidavit," this form can be used to document the location of the burial for deed recordation and other purposes.
See lists of landfills above.
Protecting Water Quality
We are studying the experience of other states and the U.S. Forest Service to learn the best ways to protect water quality in the streams and lakes in the burn areas in Texas. From this research, we have prepared this fact sheet on Surface Water Quality Concerns from Wildfires.
As we and other responding agencies develop recommendations for steps you can take to protect surface water in your area, we will add that information here.
In the meantime, by properly disposing of ash and carcasses from your property, you are taking significant action to protect local lakes and streams.
