By Sam Douglass
Texas Roadhouse in Williston was issued a $1,600 fine when food scraps were found in trash bound for the landfill, as reported by the Williston Observer.
The restaurant off Williston Road, known for its steaks, peanut shells, and Texan atmosphere, found itself the target of an investigation by the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) over unusually high amounts of food scraps found in landfill waste.
According to a public memo that alleged misconduct by the restaurant, large quantities of food waste were observed in trash loads at a solid-waste transfer station in late 2024. This led to an investigation that ultimately identified Texas Roadhouse in Williston as the source of the waste with compliance staff finding no dedicated organic waste bins on the property.
Following a warning of noncompliance issued to the restaurant in December 2024, Texas Roadhouse denied the lack of bins and provided evidence of their food waste contract with Casella. At the time they were deemed to be in compliance as restaurants are usually given the benefit of the doubt. However, a subsequent December 15th check of the restaurant’s waste revealed ongoing food scraps mixed into the trash.
Over the next two weeks, compliance staff from CSWD recorded evidence showing minimal use of the restaurant’s organic waste bins, food waste repeatedly appearing in trash, and other mandatory recyclables mixed into the trash, including cardboard and glass bottles.
CSWD ordinances require food waste and recyclables to be separated from trash bound for the landfill. Ordinarily, according to the memo, the presence of the other mandatory recyclables in the trash would be attributed to a lack of staff training or staff indifference but given the accompanying food waste, this was to be addressed in a comprehensive action plan as well.
In January 2025, Managing Partner DJ Slowother met with CSWD staff and walked them through the restaurant’s procedures for handling food waste. At this time, Slowother attributed the food waste found in 2024 to irregular pickup by the hauler and full food waste bins. Compliance staff observed restaurant employees bringing rolling outdoor waste bins into the kitchen to directly dispose of food scraps, which they noted as unusual. Compliance staff with CSWD were unconvinced.
“We are now highly skeptical that unreliable organics service by the hauler, the explanation previously offered by Mr. Slothower as an excuse for the food waste from TRH documented at the transfer station in November 2024, was truly the reason for the restaurant’s noncompliance then — or now,” as stated in the memo.
In mid-January 2025, Texas Roadhouse was issued a Notice of Violation which included evidence collected during the investigation and the potential penalties of the alleged misconduct. The restaurant was allowed a hearing in front of the district’s Executive Board, which it declined.
In late January 2025, the Board voted to issue a $1,600 fine, requiring the restaurant to submit a corrective action plan, and to cooperate with CSWD compliance going forward. The restaurant has since paid the fine and submitted their action plan.
CSWD has full authority to issue these fines. Under state law, municipalities were required to organize into solid waste management districts by 1988, recognizing that municipalities have a responsibility to manage and dispose of trash and other waste. These responsibilities were further expanded under Act 148 (2012), the state’s Universal Recycling Law, which regulated the disposal of food waste, leaves and grass clippings, and “blue bin” recyclables like glass and cardboard.