BFI Waste Systems of North America, Inc. v. Martinez Environmental Group

BEA ANN SMITH, Justice.

This case involves an urban landfill’s application to permit a major expansion. As cities grow, area landfills reach capacity. Attempts to obtain new landfill space, although necessary, are always unpopular with nearby landowners. BFI operates a landfill in east San Antonio. After several incremental expansions, it applied to the Commission 1 for an expansion permit that would more than triple the landfill’s size and allow it to operate for approximately fifty-seven more years before it reached capacity. Nearby residents formed an organization, Martinez Environmental…