Metro is responsible for management of the greater Portland area’s garbage and recycling system in a manner that protects the environment, protects the public’s health, and gets good value for the public’s money. Part of Metro’s responsibilities include the disposal of garbage after recycling and waste recovery efforts are undertaken.
Metro’s current landfill disposal contract has been in effect for nearly 30 years and expires on Dec. 31, 2019. This fall, Metro will issue a request for proposals for a new landfill contract to dispose of garbage that is received through Metro Central and Metro South transfer stations, which together handle more than 500,000 tons of garbage per year. It is anticipated that the next landfill disposal contract will be a 10-year contract with the possibility of up to two 5-year extensions.
Four landfills were prequalified for the disposal procurement through a Request for Qualifications issued in June. Qualified landfills must have at least 30 years of capacity to handle the garbage from one or both Metro transfer stations and must have (or demonstrate that they will have starting in January 2020) the ability to convert methane to electricity or methane to fuels. These landfills will be the only landfills eligible to submit formal proposals for Metro’s consideration:
- Columbia Ridge Landfill near Arlington, Ore., owned by Waste Management
- Finley Buttes Landfill near Boardman, Ore., owned by Waste Connections
- Roosevelt Regional Landfill near Roosevelt, Wash., owned by Republic Services
- Wasco County Landfill near The Dalles, Ore., owned by Waste Connections
In addition to a request for proposals for landfill disposal of waste, Metro will issue a separate request for proposals for transportation contracts to deliver waste from Metro Central and Metro South transfer stations to the selected landfill. It is anticipated that the next waste transportation contract will be a 10-year contract.
A public comment period on the draft requests for proposals closed on Sept. 12, 2017. Another public comment period closed on Oct. 3, 2017, on sample contract language to be attached to each RFP (the "standard agreement"). Metro staff will consider comments received and incorporate them into the final requests for proposals, which will be issued before the end of 2017.
Metro expects to award new landfill and transportation contracts before the end of 2018, and those new contracts will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
More about landfills