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North Texas is booming. According to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), our region has grown by 900,000 people since the 2020 census. In 2024 alone, Fort Worth (up 32,191 residents) and Dallas (up 29,510) led the charge, while fast-growing cities like Celina (15,980) and McKinney (11,310) saw explosive gains.

But with more people comes more trash—and a greater demand for landfills.

The problem? Space is running out. As real estate becomes scarcer, existing landfills are filling at an alarming pace. Cassidy Campbell with NCTCOG warns, “There are only 22 active landfills in our region. At the pace we’re going, they’ll be full in just 35 years. That might sound like a long time, but it’s not—especially considering the tremendous population growth we’re experiencing.”

North Central Texas alone sends 11.8 million tons of trash to landfills each year—nearly 30% of all landfill waste in Texas. That’s about 7.2 pounds of trash per person, per day.

The good news? We can slow the tide through recycling.

Recycling often gets a bad rap as inconvenient, especially when people have to sort materials. But many cities are making it easier. Granbury, for example, partners with Waste Management to offer free curbside recycling for residents—no sorting required. Simply place recyclables in the provided bin and they’ll handle the rest.

In Weatherford, residents currently pay a small recycling fee, but the city is exploring more cost-effective programs that could eventually make recycling free there, too.

Want to make a difference? Contact your city’s utility department or visit your trash provider’s website for recycling details. Population growth in North Texas isn’t slowing down—but with community-wide commitment, recycling can reduce landfill use and protect valuable land for the future.