Event: What’s Up With Coffin Butte Landfill?
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library - Meeting Room 645 NW Monroe, Corvallis, OR, United StatesShining a Light on the Issues
September 28, 7:00-8:45 pm
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
“Since World War II, the southern end of Coffin Butte in north Benton County, Oregon, has served as a
solid waste dump site in one form or another. Over time, the site has changed and grown – beginning as a rock quarry, then a U.S Army garbage dump/burn pile, Coffin Butte now serves as a full-scale regional
landfill serving dozens of communities in western Oregon and Washington. While the site has changed
and grown over time, Benton County has not adopted a plan for managing the site or the waste left there
over the decades.” - From Executive Summary, Benton County Talks Trash
In September 2022, “Benton County Talks Trash” kicked off an 8-month public workgroup process, forming five subcommittees to seek common understandings of the history, land use, legal issues, and future of solid waste at the landfill, and to develop a long-term sustainable materials management and community education plan. The result was the Benton County Talks Trash Solid Waste Process Report – a report including findings and recommendations to support decision-making about the future of solid waste in Benton County.
The League has invited six community members who served on the Benton County Talks Trash Subcommittees to share their perspectives.
- What did they learn about the history of the landfill?
- What were their findings and recommendations?
- What lies ahead for dealing with waste in Benton County?
SPEAKERS
- Catherine Biscoe - Introduction
- Mark Yeager - History of Coffin Butte Landfill
- Paul Nietfeld - Landfill Size, Capacity, and Longevity
- Ed Pitera - Past Land Use Conditions
- John Deuel - Sustainable Materials Management Plan
- Mary Parmigiani - Community Education & Public Outreach
The goal of the League’s September program is to provide a basic overview of the Workgroup’s process, an opportunity to identify community concerns, and to outline Benton County’s future plans for waste management. (NOTE: The program will not be about landfill expansion.)
Don’t miss this important event!
