The Senate on June 28 passed House Bill 37 94, which creates a municipal solid waste task force to study and plan for the future of waste disposal in the Willamette Valley as Coffin Butte Landfill approaches capacity.

Sponsor Senator Gelser Blueen told colleagues that Coffin Butte currently handles a substantial portion of the state’s municipal solid waste and that the landfill’s remaining capacity could be exhausted around 2037. The bill establishes an eight-member task force, not including two nonvoting legislators, with seats for a private hauler representative, League of Oregon Cities, Association of Oregon Counties, environmental organizations and subject-matter experts in municipal solid-waste disposal.

Why it matters: Coffin Butte takes waste from multiple counties and handles a large share of the state’s municipal solid waste. The task force is intended to bring local governments, industry, environmental groups and state officials together to plan a transition and prevent a regional waste-management crisis.

Floor debate: Senator Solman supported the bill but urged broader stakeholder representation, noting the task force as drafted included only one industry representative while the solid-waste system involves haulers, transfer stations, composters and regulators. Senator Robinson suggested incineration as a possible alternative and said it was worth exploring; Senator Frederick cautioned that burning produces ash that must be managed and said cross-jurisdictional collaboration is necessary.

Vote and outcome: The clerk recorded the roll and the presiding officer declared House Bill 37 94 passed; the motion received the necessary constitutional majority.

Implementation: The task force will evaluate regional disposal options and report findings to the Legislature; the bill designates membership and requires collaboration among local governments and stakeholders.

Less critical details: Senator Gelser Blueen noted the task force’s membership specifics on the floor and urged public engagement in waste-reduction efforts.