Benton County asks public to "talk trash" and the future of solid waste

Hello Benton County community members,

The Benton County Board of Commissioners is inviting community members to “talk trash” and learn more about the future of sustainable materials management, solid waste, and disposal in Benton County.

Community members have already dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to the County’s Solid Waste Process Workgroup to build common understandings and provide recommendations to Benton County Commissioners for a constructive path forward relating to sustainable materials management and solid waste disposal, including at the Coffin Butte regional landfill.

Solid waste management affects Benton County, the mid-Willamette Valley, and beyond – the County wants to hear from as many community members as possible during this important process. The Workgroup has developed draft findings and recommendations, and now the community can weigh in about topics that affect landfill size, capacity, and longevity, as well as the contents of a proposed Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP), prior land use Conditions of Approval, and community education and outreach.

“Transparency and openness have been the key to this effort, and we are continuing to engage with community members who have diverse perspectives in addition to key stakeholders, Republic Services, adjacent counties, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,” said Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone. “It is important for Benton County to work with the broader community on a long-term strategy for solid waste and disposal.”

Benton County is seeking feedback from the community:

March 16 and 23: Extended public comment periods at the Workgroup meetings

• Meeting #9: March 16, 2023 (Thursday), 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Meeting #10: March 23, 2023 (Thursday), 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

UPDATED: March 16-31: Public survey to provide feedback on the draft recommendations

• Take the survey and provide feedback on workgroup recommendations. *The survey has been extended through Friday, March 31 at 12:00 PST.

April 3: Final Workgroup report will be available online on the Solid Waste Process Workgroup webpage.

April 4: In-person Community Open House

• 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., 4500 Research Way, Corvallis 97333, RSVP to pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov

April 11 – May 26: Additional public comment period opens Email: pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov for more information.

The Workgroup’s Final Report will be available online on the Benton County Board of Commissioners home page.

For more information, or to RSVP for the in-person Open House to be held on April 4, please email pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

                                                                                ###

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.