Columbia Ridge Recycling and Landfill
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Columbia Ridge is a modern Subtitle D landfill that accepts primarily municipal solid waste (MSW or household waste) as well as industrial and special wastes. It is engineered with overlapping environmental protection systems that meet or exceed rigorous state and federal regulations and are subject to highly regulated monitoring and reporting requirements. Columbia Ridge uses sophisticated monitoring protocols to verify that its environmental protection systems are operating properly. Monitoring data gathered by company and independent professionals is submitted to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Acceptable Material
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- Appliances
- Loose Sharps
- Batteries
- Tires
- Discarded Vehicles
- Used Oil
- Hazardous Wastes
- Electronic Waste Recycling
- Transportation Services
- Household Recycling Drop-off
- White Goods Recycling
- On-site Rail Spur
If you have questions or need more information, please e-mail us at landfill@wmnorthwest.com.
Containment Design
Columbia Ridge has a multi-layer composite liner system that includes an engineered clay barrier and a 60-mil high-density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane to ensure that waste and wastewater (leachate) are contained and isolated from soil and groundwater.
Groundwater Monitoring
The site’s geology and hydrogeology provide unique natural protections because the groundwater is approximately 200-feet deep and separated from the waste by low permeability soils. Groundwater is monitored at seven wells, both upgradient and downgradient of the waste disposal footprint.
Landfill Gas Management
Columbia Ridge manages landfill gas to generate renewable energy, reduce emissions, and prevent odor. The system collects 4,700 cubic feet per minute of landfill gas through more than 80 wells. A portion of the gas is sent to an on-site energy plant, with the remaining gas managed by flares per federal requirements.
Leachate Collection & Treatment
The leachate collection and treatment system consists of a highly permeable gravel drainage layer covering the entire landfill base, with perforated pipes at low points to collect and route leachate to a double composite lined evaporation pond. It also includes a recirculation process that pumps leachate from the pond back in to the landfill, to accelerate waste decomposition and enhance landfill gas production.
Renewable Energy
- The energy plant at Columbia Ridge uses landfill gas to generate renewable energy as part of
Waste Management’s increasing focus on extracting value from waste. Gas collected from the landfill
powers eight engines which produce 6.4 MW of electricity. The electricity currently powers 5,000 homes
in Seattle through an agreement with the City of Seattle.
- Columbia Ridge also hosts a demonstration project to process household waste and convert it into a clean
fuel, using a patented plasma gasification technology. The plant is owned and operated by InEnTec.
- In addition, Columbia Ridge is home to 67 wind turbines with the capacity to generate 100 MW. Future plans include 25 more wind turbines capable of producing another 50 MW.
Columbia Ridge is proud to be an active supporter of community events and programs that make Gilliam County a strong and healthy place to live, work and play.
Our most significant contributions focus on youth and education, including a college scholarship program for high school seniors from Arlington and Condon as well as strong support for 4-H and FFA. We also support early learning programs for preschool children in Arlington and Condon, the development of life skills through the Missoula Children’s Theater performing arts program, local service organizations and the Arlington and Condon chambers of commerce.