County offers fire-free disposal dates and discusses options to reduce escaped pile burns

The board discussed ways to reduce escaped pile burns and encourage safer disposal of yard debris as the region faces dry conditions.

Jeff Burrow, director of solid waste (S12), announced the countys transfer-station "fire-free" disposal events: May 15May 20 and June 5June 13. Burrow explained the logistics are constrained by staffing contracts and grinding/processing capacity; material dropped off during free events requires handling and, if not ground, can consume landfill space. He said standard yard-debris disposal is charged by volume (about $6 per cubic yard) outside free events.

Commissioners sought options to encourage earlier cleanup and reduce burning-at-home: expanding or repeating public notices, providing neighborhood dumpsters through Firewise programs, exploring grant-funded alternatives (including piloting grinding or biochar technologies), and public-service announcements educating residents on transfer-station dates and alternatives. Commissioners also noted that the landfill-side processing of free materials has a cost in lost capacity and demonstrated the trade-offs between free disposal and long-term landfill management.

The board encouraged communications staff to promote the fire-free dates more prominently and to consider targeted early notification in high-risk zones. Solid-waste staff said they would provide data from Oregon Department of Forestry on the number of escaped pile burns and would report back with options and cost implications.