Coffin Butte Landfill’s Methane Problem

In June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed an announced inspection of the Coffin Butte Landfill to ensure the facility was operating in compliance with methane emissions standards. Organic matter, for example food waste ,yard waste, wood products, non-synthetic cloths, produces methane as it decays. This is consequential for climate changes as methane is a greenhouse gas 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. By law, Oregon’s largest landfills are required to install gas control and collection systems. This involves tarping non-operational sections of the landfills to create an inescapable environment for methane, and using gas wells to pump methane into electricity generators or flares that burn off the methane prior to entering the atmosphere. Landfill operators are required to inspect the landfill for leaks four times a year and report any leaks to the Department of Environmental quality.

Despite landfill operators knowing the inspection was going to happen, and having an opportunity to make sure the facility was in full compliance with methane capture regulations, the EPA nonetheless found 61 methane leaks exceeding the allowable limit of 500 parts per million. The vast majority of leaks were well beyond that threshold--several reached and exceeded 50,000 parts per million, which could cause an explosion or fire with an ignition source. 23 of those leaks were located near gas collection wells that Oregon law requires operators to regularly inspect. The EPA's findings completely contradicted the report led by Valley Landfills, Inc. Only 14 days earlier. Valley Landfills, Inc. claimed they found a mere 6 leaks In their report, the EPA expressed numerous concerns over Coffin Butte's methane leaks monitoring techniques and their self-reported data to the Department of Environmental Quality.

A recent project by Carbon Mapper provides evidence that Coffin Butte landfill methane emissions are exceedingly large, much more serious than Coffin Butte has reported. We believe that methane monitoring conducted with sensitive instrumentation carried by fly-over aircraft is the best path forward for measuring, monitoring and reporting the impact of landfill methane emissions.