Coffin Butte Landfill faces future waste management challenges in Benton County

The Benton County, Arkansas government meeting on April 15, 2025, focused on the future of waste management in the region, particularly concerning the Coffin Butte Landfill in Oregon. The landfill, which has been operational since at least 1992, is one of the few regional landfills in Oregon, accepting over 75,000 tons of waste annually from areas beyond its immediate vicinity.

During the meeting, officials discussed the historical context of landfills in the United States, noting that many smaller landfills were phased out due to environmental regulations established by the EPA in the 1980s and 1990s. These regulations led to the consolidation of waste management into larger facilities equipped with modern safety mechanisms to protect groundwater and air quality.

Coffin Butte Landfill, currently owned by Republic Services, is a significant destination for waste from Portland and surrounding areas. As the landfill approaches its eventual closure, Benton County officials emphasized the need to plan for future waste disposal options. The discussion highlighted that once Coffin Butte closes, waste will likely need to be transported to landfills much farther away, raising concerns about logistics and costs.

Data presented during the meeting indicated a steady increase in waste accepted at Coffin Butte, with a cap of 1.1 million tons per year under the current contract. Benton County contributes approximately 10% of the waste processed at Coffin Butte, underscoring the county's reliance on this facility.

As the meeting concluded, officials acknowledged the importance of proactive planning for waste management in light of Coffin Butte's eventual closure, urging collaboration among local governments to address the challenges ahead.