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Landfill capacity, compactor purchase and cell timing featured in Cowlitz County solid‑waste briefing
Summary
Staff reported landfill tonnage, long‑term capacity projections and closure/post‑closure funds, and presented requests for a new compactor (about $2 million), a used haul truck and a steel drum roller; cell‑10 development timing was pushed to 2027.
Cowlitz County solid‑waste staff told commissioners Thursday the landfill handled roughly 792,000 tons in 2023, about 758,000 in 2024 and expects roughly 765,000 tons this year, and outlined equipment and cell development plans to maintain operations.
The department reported annual sales near $27–29 million, said the landfill’s permitted annual tonnage is around 1,000,000 and noted an official life‑of‑site projection in presented materials of 2082 (staff said updated flights and compaction will extend that date). Staff said a recent aerial survey showed a top section that had compacted 10 feet over six months, returning substantial airspace.
Solid‑waste staff presented three equipment requests for the landfill: a new Caterpillar compactor (an 836K class machine) with an estimated new cost a little over $2 million; a used 30‑ton haul truck (estimated about $200,000); and a used steel‑drum roller (used) to replace frequent rentals. Staff said they rented similar equipment twice this year at a cost of roughly $27,000 for the haul truck rentals and roughly $25,000 for multiple drum‑roller rentals and argued owning the equipment would be more cost‑effective.
The department said it intends to delay cell‑10 construction to 2027 because current cells still have usable capacity; earlier planning estimates for the next cell development were cited at about $14 million but staff said timing and footprint complexity affect cost and schedule. Staff also reviewed closure and post‑closure reserves: headquarters closure/post‑closure funds totalled about $34 million and Tenant Way closure had about $9.7 million remaining, with post‑closure care periods of 55 and 30 years respectively.
Staff said they continue to manage contract schedules with major customers (including one contract that extends to 2044) and that they monitor inbound material profiles to avoid petroleum‑contaminated loads that could create problematic layers. The meeting recorded presentation of the equipment requests but no formal procurement votes; staff said funds exist in capital/equipment reserves to cover replacement costs and that purchase timing will be coordinated with available inventory and auctions.
