By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
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.
Douglas County invites residents to attend a public open house on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m., to learn more about biochar and how the new facility will benefit the community.
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.
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.
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 [email protected].
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 DetailsDouglas County Public Works is leading the development of the biochar facility and waste diversion site.
Email [email protected].
