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Deschutes County weighs landfill replacement, compost and biochar as 2031 closure approaches
Summary
County solid-waste staff presented candidate landfill sites, an expanded composting and diversion strategy and a renewed renewable natural gas timeline; staff said transfer-station capacity limits make near-term planning urgent ahead of a 2031 closure horizon.
Deschutes County solid-waste staff told commissioners they are preparing for the long-term replacement of the county landfill and for a major expansion of diversion infrastructure.
Solid-waste leadership reported the county currently accepts roughly 750 tons of material per day and that the transfer-station building cannot plausibly accept both public drop-off traffic (roughly 600–700 vehicles daily) and the haulage that will be required when the existing landfill cell is closed. Staff said site evaluations and appraisals are under way for candidate rural sites (including a “Horse Ridge” option) and that Rock Associates is handling appraisal work intended to support negotiations and any purchase terms.
"We are averaging about 7 50 tons a day of waste materials going into the landfill," the director said, explaining the scale of the task and the need to plan now for transfer and processing capacity.
Key pieces discussed: - Landfill site search and appraisals: Staff expect appraisals back in coming months and will bring recommendations to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) and the board; one parcel is owned by ODOT, which could mean a government-to-government transfer. - Transfer-station and processing needs: County intends to evaluate new buildings to process bulky waste and expand transfer capacity so waste can be shipped off-site when necessary; design and construction timelines stretch several years. - Composting and biochar: County is exploring expansion of compost facilities and noted a regional biochar grant opportunity that, if awarded, could be added as an amendment to compost operations. - Renewable natural gas: An RNG processing project is under development but delayed by permitting and power availability; staff now project a production timeline around 2027 and will begin drilling additional gas wells this spring to increase landfill-gas capture.
Why it matters: With the county's current landfill site reaching operational limits and a tentative 2031 closure horizon, staff said planning, permitting and capital investments must begin now to avoid service disruptions and rising costs for residents. Commissioners asked for an 'avoided-cost' analysis tying cubic-yard diversion to landfill-space savings to help weigh the economics of composting and other diversion strategies.
What’s next: The county will present SWAC recommendations in April and bring a formal board recommendation in early summer. Staff will also seek public comment on proposed curbside expansion for rural areas and bring a public hearing item to the board in February about recycling-modernization implementation.
