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Douglas County Biochar and Waste Diversion Site A First-in-the-Nation Approach to Wildfire Mitigation

Douglas County Biochar and Waste Diversion Site

A First-in-the-Nation Approach to Wildfire Mitigation

Here in Douglas County, wildfire preparedness and resiliency are a top priority. That’s why the Board of Douglas County Commissioners is investing in a biochar facility and waste diversion site to protect our communities from wildfire and improve the way we manage waste. Opening in 2026, the Douglas County Biochar and Waste Diversion Site will be the first county-operated biochar facility in the United States, putting Douglas County at the forefront of wildfire risk reduction innovation.

This new facility will increase the scope and scale of wildfire mitigation, reduce costs for waste removal by improving efficiency and reduce costs for forest management projects. In the future, the site will also serve as a convenient, one-stop-drop for yard waste, electronics, household chemicals and more.

Why Biochar?

Biochar is a form of charcoal created by heating organic materials, like wood and plant waste, in a low-oxygen environment through a process called pyrolysis. It captures carbon before it can be released into the atmosphere, creating a carbon-rich product that improves soil health, filters contaminants like PFAS and even helps with odor control.


Biochar benefits:

  • Reduces processing costs: Diseased wood, understory material and other non-sellable wood from forest thinning and cleanup can now be processed locally.

  • Expands mitigation efforts: Lower costs allow more acres to be treated each year, increasing community protection.

  • Generates revenue: Once operational, the facility will produce sellable biochar as a multi-use organic product, estimated to pay for itself within nine years.

  • Regional impact: Wildfire knows no boundaries. Lowering wildfire mitigation costs in Douglas County will allow us to better reduce risk for our communities and help protect our neighbors.

This visionary idea came from the Douglas County Wildfire Action Collaborative, a group of emergency management professionals and wildfire experts focused on preparing for and preventing wildfires in our region.

Project experts and local leaders engaged residents at an open house


On Jan. 28, Douglas County invited residents to attend a public open house to learn more about biochar and how the new facility will benefit the community.

A staff presentation on the biochar facility was followed by a question-and-answer session with project experts and Commissioner Abe Laydon.


Partnerships

Douglas County’s biochar facility will not only have positive impacts for our own communities, but for our neighboring counties and communities as well. The reduction in wildfire mitigation costs made possible by the biochar facility will allow Douglas County to expand our own risk reduction efforts and support surrounding areas, because wildfires don’t stop at county lines. When the threat of wildfire is mitigated, we all benefit – our forests, our water, our communities and our health.

Interested in partnering with us? Email the Douglas County Biochar team at biochar@douglas.co.us.

Aurora Water

At a Business Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Board voted to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Aurora and Douglas County to support the development and operation of the County’s future regional biochar and waste diversion site.

Under the terms of the IGA, Aurora Water will contribute $100,000 toward the establishment of the facility. This agreement reflects a shared commitment to wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, and sustainable land management.

Project Details

Douglas County Public Works is leading the development of the biochar facility and waste diversion site.

  • Location: Sedalia, just south of Airport Road off U.S. 85

  • Opening: Anticipated in summer 2026

  • Local impact: Minimal, as the facility is located in an industrial area.

Additional Materials & Resources

In the News

 
 
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