Year opened
1990
Projected life remaining
120 years
Facility acreage
12,000 acres
Permitted footprint
700 acres
Remaining permitted capacity
320 million tons
Tons processed annually
2.6 million in 2024
Ownership
Waste Management Disposal Services
of Oregon
Permit type and number
DEQ Solid Waste Permit #391
Number of employees
140
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Columbia Ridge provides safe and professional disposal services for communities,
businesses and industries primarily from Oregon and Washington. Located in north
central Oregon, the site provides convenient truck and rail access. The site's dry
climate and unique geology support superior environmental performance, while the
rural locale allows for a 10,000-acre buffer sustainably managed for agriculture and
wildlife. Columbia Ridge is also a platform for wind power and green technologies
that use waste to generate renewable energy.
Columbia Ridge is a modern Subtitle D landfill that accepts primarily municipal solid
waste (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 the site's
environmental protection systems are operating properly. Monitoring data gathered
by company and independent professionals is submitted to the Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Acceptable Material
- Abrasive blast media
- Agricultural wastes
- Animal carcasses
- Asbestos-containing material (friable
and non friable)
- Auto shredder residue
- Biosolids
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- Construction and demolition (C&D)
debris CERCLA wastes
- Dredged wet sediments
- Filter cake
- Incinerator ash
- Industrial and special wastes
- Medical waste (treated)
- Treated wood
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Unacceptable Wastes
- Appliances
- Loose Sharps
- Batteries
- Tires
- Discarded Vehicles
- Used Oil
- Hazardous Wastes
Additional Services Provided
- Transportation Services
- On-site Rail Spur
For Gilliam County Residents Only
Household Recycling Drop-off
- Glass
- Cardboard
- Motor Oil
- Automotive
- Electronic Waste Recycling
- White Goods Recycling
For information about Hazardous Waste Disposal Click here.
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 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 9,400 cubic feet per minute of
landfill gas through more than more than 100 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 into 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 WM's increasing focus on extracting value from waste. Gas collected from the
landfill powers 12 engines to produce 12.8 megawatts of electricity-enough to power
12,500 homes in Seattle through an agreement with the City of Seattle.
In addition, Columbia Ridge is home to 92 wind turbines with the capacity to
generate more than 150 megawatts.
Community Partnerships and Involvement
Columbia Ridge is proud to be a valued community partner in ways that are visible in every direction across the
Gilliam County landscape:
- Family-wage Jobs: Columbia Ridge provides 140 family-wage jobs with full benefits, training and development
opportunities.
- Infrastructure and Economic Development: Columbia Ridge pays Gilliam County an annual host fee to support
essential public sector services, capital improvements and economic development. WM voluntarily initiated the
host fee agreement in 1990 as a demonstration of community partnership. In 2021, WM paid Gilliam County
$5.2 million in host fees.
- Community Donations: WM donates generously to support youth and community vitality across Gilliam County.
WM's contributions totaled more than $50,000 - largely to support the chambers of commerce in Arlington and
Condon, the Gilliam County Fair, the WM Community Partnership Scholarship Program (college scholarships for
local students).
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Columbia Ridge Landfill
and Green Energy Plant
18177 Cedar Springs Lane
Arlington, OR 97812
800-685-8001
Operation Hours
Monday - Friday
6 am - 3:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday Closed
(Subject to change)
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