As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Dallas Zoo in collaboration with Fort Worth-based composting facility Silver Creek Materials has created Zoo Poo, a compost product made with manure from the Zoo’s elephants, giraffes, and other herbivores. In addition to diverting over 1 million pounds of solid waste from the landfill in 2021 alone, the Dallas Zoo will donate a portion of the proceeds to support its global conservation efforts.

Jackson Walker partners Justin Shipley, as General Counsel of the Dallas Zoo, and Shannon Zmud Teicher assisted the Zoo in the agreement with Silver Creek Materials that allowed for the creation of the product.

For more information about the collaboration, visit the following articles featured in local news outlets:

• “What to do with all that zoo poo? Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth company have a plan for animal waste,” The Dallas Morning News
• “Dallas ‘Zoo Poo’ available to purchase,” WFAA-TV
• “Dallas Zoo animal waste to be recycled into retail compost,” GreenSource DFW
• “Dallas Zoo to Recycle 100% of Its Herbivore Waste into ‘Zoo Poo’ For-Sale Compost,” Dallas Innovates
• “Fort Worth recycling company goes wild with zoo poo partnership,” Fort Worth Report

Meet Our Team

Justin Shipley represents financial institutions and borrowers on a wide range of complex commercial finance and real estate transactions. He has broad experience representing borrowers and lenders in connection with syndicated credit facilities (both secured and unsecured), construction loans, multi-state real property portfolio loans, developments involving Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), working lines of credit, and M&A financing. Justin is also active in his community, serving on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and as General Counsel for the Dallas Zoo.

Shannon Zmud Teicher is an advocate and counselor with deep experience in intellectual property, media, and technology. She helps clients  protect, license and litigate matters related to their intellectual property, specifically related to the areas of trademark, copyright, social media, advertising, marketing, and entertainment.  Shannon currently serves on the Board of the Texas Women’s Foundation, a leading driver of meaningful social and economic change for women, girls and families in Texas.