A legislative task force has spent six months coming up with a proposal for a combined seven-county garbage system. Now, it’s asking the public to weigh in.
The 2025 Legislature created the task force to identify solutions for solid waste disposal for seven counties – including Lincoln County — after the region’s garbage disposal options were thrown into flux. The counties involved are Lincoln, Tillamook, Benton, Marion, Polk, Yamhill, and Linn counties.
The Reworld incinerator in Brooks, where most of Marion County’s garbage was burned for four decades, closed in 2024. Residents in Benton County are fighting an expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill, which takes much of the region’s waste. Even with an expansion, the landfill is expected to close in little more than a decade.
The task force is considering a plan to create a voluntary state and local partnership program designed to help counties, cities and regional governments finance and build garbage, recycling, composting and waste-reduction infrastructure.
The proposal would allow the state to help local governments with bonding assistance, matching grants, and technical assistance. Local governments could choose to build transfer stations, recycling facilities, composting systems, methane capture projects or other infrastructure projects. The proposal also could allow public-private partnerships and collaboration with private waste operators.
The task force meets at 1 p.m. Friday, July 10 in Hearing Room 50 at the State Capitol. To watch online or to submit written comments, go here.
I’ve been told by the folks at Thompson’s that if our waste no longer can go to Coffin Butte, it’s going to have to be shipped all the way to Boardman. That will grossly increase our garbage service costs.