Bastrop County, we hear you.
We have received reports from members of our community that they have experienced odors near our facility. Community concerns are important to us, especially when they relate to quality of life. We are committed to being a good neighbor and responding to concerns responsibly.
Contact us at 512-772-4527 or click here to report a concern.
Darling Ingredients will be commissioning new equipment to improve treatment efficiency within its wastewater treatment system beginning on Dec. 1. Please be advised that any changed conditions during this time are temporary. We are working to prevent any disruptions to the community.
Supporting agriculture and food production
Located off Highway 95 between Bastrop and Elgin, our Bastrop, Texas, facility employs about 100 people and plays a vital role in the food and agriculture supply chain.
We help reduce waste and support local industry by repurposing chicken by-products from nearby poultry production facilities. We transform these by-products into specialty feed ingredients used by our customers to produce feed for livestock and pets. Here, we also process used cooking oil from hundreds of local restaurants. Both the used cooking oil and the fat from chicken by-products are used as low-carbon feedstocks for renewable fuel production. Darling Ingredients, through a 50-50 joint venture, is one of the largest renewable fuel and sustainable aviation fuel producers in the world.
Focused on progress
Air initiatives
Estimated investment: ~$470,000
Project status: Near completion
We’re upgrading our processing equipment to improve efficiency and reliability while maintaining full compliance with environmental regulations. Although the initial design required a permit amendment, our engineering team developed an improved solution that operates within existing permits. As a result, the permit change request was withdrawn in coordination with TCEQ protocols.
Investment: ~$1.5 million
Project Status: Completed
Investment: ~$2.5 million
Project Status: Completed
We have engaged independent engineering consultants and subject matter experts in air control technology to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and to enhance the effectiveness of our odor capture and treatment processes throughout the facility. These efforts are designed to bolster the overall performance of our odor control systems, ensuring optimal vapor treatment prior to atmospheric discharge.
Estimated investment: ~$3-4 million
Project status: Initiated
Estimated investment: ~$300,000
Project status: Initiated
We’re upgrading doors throughout our processing areas to further strengthen building containment and airflow control. These improvements help maintain proper ventilation and ensure that air is directed through our odor control systems before being released.
Estimated Investment: ~$1 million
Project Status: Initiated
We’re continuing to enhance our RTO system and partnering with specialized experts to conduct more frequent inspections, ensuring this key odor control technology operates efficiently.
Estimated Investment: ~$115,000
Project Status: Initiated
We’re designing and installing a new air condenser on our processing equipment to further capture and cool air before it reaches our odor control systems, allowing those systems to operate even more efficiently.
Estimated Investment: ~$1.5-2 million
Project Status: Initiated
We’re expanding the hard-surfaced areas used for raw material staging, which will help enhance our existing odor control systems by improving airflow containment.
Estimated Investment: TBD
Project Status: Initiated
We’re evaluating roofs and walls across our facility to identify areas for repair or replacement, helping to further contain building air and ensure vapors are properly directed through our odor control systems before release.
Estimated Investment: TBD
Project Status: Initiated
We’re taking proactive steps to enhance odor control equipment performance through increased inspection and preventative maintenance measures, as well as ensuring timely and thoughtful response to any community concerns.
Estimated Investment: NA
Project Status: In progress
Wastewater initiatives
Estimated investment: ~$14-16 million
Project status: Initiated
We’ve upgraded our wastewater treatment systems with new equipment and improved controls to reduce odors and enhance performance, supporting our commitment to responsible operations and community stewardship.
Estimated investment: ~$3 million
Project status: Completed
A program has been deployed with specialized experts to remove solids within the wastewater treatment lagoon system, which will further enhance wastewater treatment and contribute toward managing wastewater-related odors.
Estimated investment: ~$4-6 million
Project status: In progress
Committed to compliance and community
Darling Ingredients works with care and diligence to meet all applicable environmental regulations. We maintain close cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and other agencies to ensure full compliance.
We recognize the need for better communication with our local community. We’re committed to enhancing our engagement and building stronger relationships. This will include more active engagement with you, listening closely to your concerns, being responsive, and seeking to work with you to address those concerns.
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