Reduce Waste, Not Trash Bills!

This was the plea of Duncan Reid, a sustainability professional who testified in opposition to Riverbend Landfill's latest attempt to expand.  Reid and dozens of others offered Yamhill County Commissioners Kathy George and Allan Springer their opinions at a hearing today on Waste Management's request to rezone the landfill from Public Works/Safety (PWS) to Exclusive Farm Use (EFU).

Rezoning the dump would allow Riverbend to take advantage of a state law that allows landfills sited on farmland to expand onto adjacent high-value farmland.  Opponents, however, argue that other state laws prevent a landfill from being zoned EFU.  Commissioners will have to decide whether to accept Waste Management's theory that a county has the power to put a parcel of land into any zone it chooses or opponents' contention that only land that meets the state definition of "farmland" may be zoned EFU.

If the landfill is rezoned, nothing prevents it from expanding.  If the rezone is denied, the landfill is likely to close when it reaches capacity in 2017.

Waste Management and a host of supporters tried to convince Commissioners George and Springer that closing the local dump would result in business-busting rate increases, while opponents pointed to the many Oregon counties that have both no landfill and thriving economies.  Reid's comment was aimed at the several witnesses who focused on their trash bills rather than on the impacts an expanded dump would have on county tourism, agriculture in the Riverbend neighborhood, and downtown McMinnville businesses.  Reid urged all parties to expand the conversation to include ways to reduce waste and reuse material now tossed away.

You can add your own comments.  Through 5:00 PM Thursday December 19, anyone can submit comments related to the proposed rezone and expansion by contacting Ken Friday at the County Planning Department:

Email:            fridayk@co.yamhill.or.us

Snail Mail:    Yamhill County Planning Department

               Attn: Ken Friday, 525 NE 4th Street, McMinnville, Oregon 97128

Comments should focus on whether the county needs a local dump over the next 25 years, the appropriateness of a 122-acre, 13-story high landfill in a farm and tourist area on the banks of a river, the likelihood of reclaiming the existing dump for farm use, and alternative ways our garbage can be handled.  Please include your name and snail mail address so that the Planning Department can mail you the Commissioners' decision.

Between December 20th and 5:00 PM Thursday, January 2, anyone may comment on material previously submitted; after January 2, only Waste Management as the applicant may respond.  The Commissioners will make their decision on January 16, 2014.  Don't let them decide without hearing from you!