Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ poultry complex in Tyler, Texas, takes cleanliness and sustainability seriously.
As part of the 2022 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s Clean Water Awards, Wayne-Sanderson’s Tyler operation was recognized as an honorable mention with distinction in the full treatment category.
The full treatment category covers plants treating wastewater in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which allows facilities to discharge into a receiving stream or final land application system. To be eligible, a facility must have a minimum of two years of no significant non-compliances or notices of violations or any other type of enforcement action. Judging is based upon training, unique processes utilized for treatment, community outreach, wildlife management, water conservation and general environmental stewardship.
Wastewater treatment
The Tyler Complex processes about 260,000 birds per day at an average weight of 6.75 pounds. It treats an average flow of 1.4 million gallons of wastewater per day. Water is fully treated for discharge into the nearby Sabine River and onto 260 acres of spray fields near the site. All high-strength areas of stormwater collection – drains near truck parking, maintenance areas and other areas that could negatively impact storm water discharge – are sent to the wastewater system for treatment.
The plant was built as part of a $200 million Sanderson Farms Inc. poultry complex in Tyler which reached full production in 2020. The plant produces tray-pack chicken for food retailers in the southwestern United States. It is capable of processing as many as 1.3 million birds per week.
Environmental impacts
The Tyler complex utilizes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to refine the biogas created by its wastewater treatment operation and use it as natural gas in the poultry plant. The PSA is a common feature at all Sanderson wastewater treatment facilities built since 2005.
In 2021, then-Sanderson Farms cut its natural gas usage by more than 15% thanks to the PSA systems.
Wayne-Sanderson’s spray field doubles as a source of hay for local livestock farmers and wildlife preserve. Hunting is banned on the 260-acre plot, making it a refuge for native wildlife.
