Republic Services presents scaled Coffin Butte expansion; stresses gas controls, county revenue impact

Republic Services representatives told the Philomath City Council on Sept. 8 they have revised a previously denied landfill expansion application and are seeking a reduced, six‑year expansion for the Coffin Butte site in Benton County.

Republic Services general manager Brett Davis said the company reduced the prior proposal, listened to community concerns and is seeking what he described as “a 50% smaller expansion” than the 2021 request. “We cut it back to a 6 year expansion leaving the road open,” Davis said, describing commitments the company has proposed to address visibility, road safety and final‑closure landscaping.

The presentation emphasized technical controls the company says it already uses or has upgraded. Paul Koster, Republic Services environmental manager for Oregon landfills, said the company has invested “almost 9 and a half million dollars in the gas infrastructure” and installed dozens of gas wells, flares and groundwater monitoring wells. “We test it semiannually for over 60 volatile organic compounds, and it meets all safe drinking water standards,” Koster told councilors.

Why it matters: the Coffin Butte landfill produces gas that fuels local power and provides host fees to Benton County, which Republic Services told the council are the county’s second‑largest source of discretionary revenue. Republic Services said the landfill’s local capacity avoids long‑distance hauling and associated transportation costs and emissions, and that without expansion the site could close after an estimated 10–11 years at current volumes.

What was changed: according to the company, changes since the 2021 denial include a smaller footprint, leaving Coffin Butte Road open, added vegetation screening along Highway 99, commitments to final closure over more acreage (three feet of topsoil and vegetation), containment of the landfill working face, continued quarterly surface emissions monitoring, and additional enclosed flares.

Public comments and planning history: several residents and technical reviewers have opposed the expansion and the county planning commission rejected the 2021 application. Resident Kiko Denzer, who said he had submitted written opposition to the county, urged councilors to review independent technical material and to consider the planning commission record: “the planning commission has unanimously rejected the proposal,” Denzer said during public comment.

Council action: councilors received the presentation and asked questions of Republic Services and staff; the council did not vote on or take formal action on the landfill expansion at this meeting. Councilors asked company representatives for follow‑up information, including comparative rate impacts and the slide deck used in the presentation.

Discussion vs. decision: the session on Sept. 8 was informational — company representatives sought local support ahead of an upcoming Benton County decision and responded to council questions. The council did not adopt any resolution, ordinance or formal position on the expansion during the meeting.

Background details: Republic Services said Coffin Butte is a regional landfill serving Benton, Linn, Polk, Marion and nearby counties; the company told the council the site currently has roughly 10–11 years of remaining capacity at present volumes and that the requested expansion would add about six years. Company representatives said some claims that the site would take unlimited out‑of‑region waste are not consistent with market economics and county permitting limits.

What to expect next: Republic Services indicated county commissioners would make decisions in the coming weeks to months and asked local officials and residents who support the plan to make their views known to Benton County.