“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.)
Venue
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library – Meeting Room & Online 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330 United States.
7:00 pm – 8:45 pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87899380914
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