Located next door to Coffin Butte Landfill, PRC is a regional facility that processes 145,000 tons of organic material annually from Linn, Lincoln, Benton, Marion, and surrounding counties. In 2010, the PRC became the first Oregon compost facility to be approved for type 3 organics composting including, proteins, dairy and all food scraps. It remains the largest facility in Oregon and a leader in the industry, providing commercial and residential customers the opportunity to recover organic waste. The end product is a nutrient rich compost used for area agriculture, landscaping and gardening.
Coffin Butte also partners with faculty from Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service in their study of Oregon white oak savannas and woodlands. These species are a cultural legacy in the Pacific Northwest and represent an important wildlife habitat. Over the last century land use change and competition from conifers has reduced oak habitat to less than 10 percent of its former range. This important research will lay the foundation for restoration of oak habitats.
We manage landfill gas through an expansive gas collection system, and we use water and soil sealants to reduce dust from earthmoving and disposal activities. In addition, to reduce emissions, our nearby hauling division operates 17 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks that service the landfill.
Coffin Butte Landfill partners with PNGC Power to generate 5.66 megawatts of power from the landfill gas collected on site. The generated power provides enough electricity for 4,000 homes.
Through extensive use of geosynthetic covers we are able to reduce the amount of rain that impacts the Landfill. This reduces the volume of water that must be captured and treated, thereby saving energy and reducing costs. We also utilize a network of 38 groundwater wells that are routinely monitored to verify groundwater conditions.
