Douglas County to Open Public Meeting on New Biochar Facility

Douglas County officials will present detailed plans and take questions on the county’s new biochar facility at a public open house scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third St., Castle Rock. The meeting will include a staff presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with project experts.

County leaders describe the facility as the nation’s first county-owned and -operated biochar operation. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by thermally converting organic materials such as slash from wildfire mitigation projects. In soils, biochar is credited with improving structure, increasing nutrient and moisture retention, and supporting microbial biomass. Officials say the facility will expand wildfire mitigation capacity by lowering costs and improving operational efficiency.

The project is positioned as both an operational tool for land management and a component of broader solid waste policy. County plans call for the site to serve in the future as an element of a larger centralized waste diversion site where residents can drop off yard waste, electronics, household chemicals and other materials. That consolidation could alter how Douglas County manages collection and processing, potentially reducing hauling and disposal expenses while offering more convenient local options for residents.

Public ownership of the plant raises practical governance questions that the open house will be expected to address. Residents attending can seek details on projected operating costs, funding sources, permitting and emissions controls, operational hours, and how materials will be accepted and transported. Officials have framed the facility as a cost-saving and capacity-building tool for wildfire mitigation, but the public meeting is a scheduled opportunity to test those claims and seek specifics about oversight and long-term management.

The county’s announcement encourages residents to attend the presentation and Q&A to learn how the facility will function and what services the future waste diversion site will provide. For more details, the county advises consulting its biochar and waste diversion site webpage ahead of the Jan. 28 session.