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Waste Management landfill at center of controversial Oregon land-use case

The activists, who filed with the Supreme Court, say a recent court ruling allowing Waste Mangement to expand the Riverbend landfill in Yamhill County, OR, would drastically change land-use laws in Oregon. Yet Waste Management spokeswoman Jackie lang told Waste Dive the company expects approval for a 29 acre expansion of the landfill, noting the expansion has been "vetted, scrutinized and further validated by recent court decisions."

The Riverbend landfill is temporarily reducing incoming tonnage "while we wait for the expansion to be officially approved," Lang said. Waste management is diverting some incoming waste to a nearby landfill in Benton County, which is not a Waste Management facility. 

Ilsa Perse, a representative of Stop the Dump Coalition, told Waste Dive in an interview that the lawsuit isn't about the landfill, but instead about land use. According to The Newberg Graphic, the latest ruling appears to allow non-farming activities on land already zones for farmers, so long as anyone who is adversely effected is compensated. "If we win, it will not close the landfill" Perse said. "This case is about the intricacies of Oregon land use."

By: Cody Boteler

www.wastedive.com