BEND, OR -- Deschutes County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee meets again Tuesday for the first time since releasing a list of 12 sites under consideration for a new landfill. More than 100 people have, so far, provided feedback on the proposed sites; many of those comments are in opposition to the inclusion of several properties near the Badlands, southeast of Bend, "We do understand the passion and concern that people have here. We are sensitive to that," Solid Waste Director Chad Centola tells KBND News, "There is no perfect site. Every site has its challenges. Some of them social; proximity to residence. Certainly, the Millican Valley, there’s people who are passionate about that, just as much as we get the fact that this could impact a residence nearby."

Centola reminds everyone it’s still very early in the process, "The people that live near these sites are concerned about the proximity of the landfill to their residence. We certainly get that. But, decisions on a policy level where, even though it’s allowed there, the county may elect not to put it there, that’s a decision that has to be made with guidance from the board of County Commissioners."

The existing Knott Landfill facility is expected to reach capacity by 2029. Centola hopes to have a ranking of proposed sites by this March, and a new site selected with construction underway by 2027. 

Centola says the public can speak directly to the committee at Tuesday's meeting, "We’ve had an open comment section at each of these meetings. These are public committee meetings; these are not hearings. We’re accepting comments. They can submit them to me today, there is no cutoff date on any of this." That meeting is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. at the County Road Department on SE 27th Street. Click HERE for the agenda.