Lane County Officials Knew Springfield Waste Was Being Exported Out of County — Months Before Signing 120,000-Ton CleanLane Guarantee
New Public Records Emails Show Public Works Director Dan Hurley and Waste Management Division Manager Were Warned of Tonnage Shortfalls Prior to Final Contract
Eugene, Ore - Documents obtained through public records requests now prove that Lane County leadership had direct, specific knowledge that significant volumes of Springfield waste were leaving Lane County — yet still pushed forward with the $174 million CleanLane contract that locks the county into delivering 120,000 tons per year of “Acceptable Material” (Municipal Solid Waste collected by haulers per the contract) or paying steep penalties to Bulk Handling Systems (BHS).
The contract, signed in October 2024 after 3-2 votes by Commissioners Heather Buch, Laurie Trieger, and Pat Farr, requires Lane County to supply BHS with 10,000 tons of garbage every month. Shortfalls trigger penalties of $78.69 per ton. Public records already showed Lane County has not received enough material for years; the new emails reveal county officials knew exactly why — and still signed anyway.
December 2023 emails between Waste Management Division Manager Jeff Orlandini and Landfill Supervisor Keith Hendrix reveal knowledge of significant volumes of waste being disposed of at Dry Creek Landfill, and even called Dry Creek to confirm:
March 2024 internal emails between Waste Management Division Manager Jeff Orlandini and Landfill Supervisor Keith Hendrix further confirm county staff were actively tracking EcoSort (the location used to transfer waste to larger trailers for transport to Dry Creek) being offline, resulting in an immediate “uptick in trucks/volumes at the landfill.”
“These emails are devastating,” said Katy Pelroy, spokesperson for the Lane County Garbage and Recycling Association. “Director Hurley and Division Manager Orlandini knew in at least December 2023 — ten months before the contract was signed — that waste was leaving Lane County from Springfield. They knew the county did not have the tonnage to meet the 120,000-ton guarantee. Yet they allowed the project to advance, exposing ratepayers to millions in penalties. This wasn’t a lack of attention. This was a conscious decision to ignore the facts.”
If CleanLane were operational, the county would already owe an estimated $3.186 million in shortfall fees for 2025 alone — money collected by BHS and ultimately passed on to Lane County households and businesses through higher garbage rates.
Clean Lane project background/timeline:
In a 3-2 vote by Lane County Commissioners in August 2024, the Clean Lane contract between Lane County and Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) was approved despite concerns over its budget overruns, unproven diversion claims, and long-term financial risks. Commissioners Heather Buch, Laurie Trieger, and Pat Farr cast the deciding votes, approving a 25-year draft contract with Bulk Handling Systems (BHS). The Clean Lane contract was signed in October 2024.
The facility, developed in partnership with BHS, is designed to process residential garbage. Once built, CleanLane will cost Lane County approximately $11,100,000 for 25 years with $9,200,000 going to BHS annually.
The Lane County Garbage & Recycling Association represents the county’s locally owned waste-collection and recycling companies. We advocate for responsible solid-waste policy, transparent government, and fair treatment of the customers and communities we serve.
Learn more about CleanLane at www.CleanLane.exposed and LCGRA at www.LCGRA.com