News

Bennett Road Paving Project

Columbia County Public Works is partnering with Knife River Corporation to pave Bennett Road from Hwy 30 to Bachelor Flat Road. The project will include an asphalt overlay, with driveway transitions to the new pavement grade.

Dates: October 1 - October 11

Expect: Delays, one-lane closures, and construction noise, but the road will remain open.

We appreciate your patience as we work to improve the road system! If you have any questions, please contact Public Works at 503-397-5090 or publicworks@columbiacountyor.gov.

The Board of Commissioners has approved a 3.6% increase in solid waste fees at the Columbia County Transfer Station, effective July 1, 2024.

As mandated by Board Order 6-2010, disposal rates at the Columbia County Transfer Station are adjusted annually based on the previous year's Consumer Price Index (CPI). This year's CPI increase of 3.6% has resulted in a corresponding rise in disposal rates, impacting both commercial and residential customers.

Starting July 1, the commercial tonnage rate will increase from $106.12 to $109.94 per ton. Residential customers with once-a-week curbside collection for a 35-gallon cart will also see adjustments.

The new curbside collection fees are as follows*:

• Clatskanie: Increase of $1.04 per month
• Rainier: Increase of $0.97 per month
• Scappoose: Increase of $1.19 per month
• St. Helens: Increase of $0.96 per month
• Vernonia: Increase of $2.25 per month

*check with your service provider to confirm your rate increase.

The new solid waste fees are as follows:

• Commercial Tipping Fee: $109.94/ton
  • Minimum up to 320 lbs.: $26.89
  • Over 320 lbs.: $163.59/ton
  • Senior Rate up to 320 lbs.: $16.55
• Yard Debris:
  • Minimum up to 860 lbs.: $26.89
  • Over 860 lbs.: $64.24/ton

Please note, fees for recycling items and unsecured loads will remain unchanged.

# # #

ABOUT THE COLUMBIA COUNTY TRANSFER STATION

Located at 1601 Railroad Avenue, St. Helens, OR 97051, the Transfer Station is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., except for holidays. The Transfer Station also hosts multiple Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Collection Events throughout the year. For more information about the Transfer Station or HHW Collection Events, please call (503) 397-7259 or visit Columbia County's website at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste.

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county's unincorporated areas.

The Columbia County Solid Waste Department is excited to announce the addition of a new drop box at the St. Helens Transfer Station for asbestos and lead testing services. This new drop box offers county residents a convenient and affordable way to access comprehensive testing services.

Key Features include:

• Multiple Asbestos Testing Turnaround Options. Choose from same-day to 5-business-day results to meet your specific needs.
• Affordable Testing. Asbestos testing starts as low as $31.50 per sample.
• Pre-Test Convenience. Test samples before cutting or impacting materials to prevent contamination and ensure safety.
• Free Pick-Up. Enjoy free pick-up service from our drop box conveniently located at the St. Helens Transfer Station.
• Same-Day Testing. Drop off samples by 10:00 AM and receive same-day results.
• Efficient Communication. Receive results and invoices via email.
• Professional Surveys. Our AHERA Certified Inspectors conduct thorough asbestos surveys.
• Certified Lab. Our laboratory is AIHA Certified for Asbestos PLM, ensuring reliable and accurate results.

With the addition of the new drop box at the St. Helens Transfer Station, testing services are now available at 6 drop box locations and 3 physical lab locations in the Portland, Vancouver, and Salem areas, making it easier than ever for you to access our testing services.

The Solid Waste Department remains committed to providing fast, reliable, and affordable asbestos and lead testing services. Our goal is to help residents maintain safe environments by offering top-notch testing solutions and professional support.

For more information about our services or to schedule a test, please contact Jacob Anderson, Solid Waste Coordinator, at (503) 397-7259 or jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov.

# # #

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county's unincorporated areas.

Your household hazardous waste must be in your vehicle's bed, trunk, or hatchback - not the passenger compartment. Unloading may take a few extra minutes as extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, and please remain in your car.

Each year, the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department hosts several no-cost Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection events throughout Columbia County. The HHW Collection Program allows residents to drop off various toxic and unsafe materials that are not permitted in the regular disposal or recycling process. 

There will be a total of seven collection dates in 2024, open to residents county-wide. The 2024 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event schedule is as follows:

Please check the Columbia County website for further updates https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/hhw-schedule.

Items must be in containers not larger than five (5) gallons and should be secured safely during transport. Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from your vehicle. Examples of acceptable items:

• fireworks and flares
• gas / diesel / fuels / motor oil / antifreeze
• lawn and garden chemicals
• herbicides and pesticides
• pool and spa chemicals
• light ballasts—must be removed from light fixtures
• fluorescent tubes
• art and hobby chemicals
• solvents and thinners
• items containing mercury
• propane and compressed gas cylinders
• batteries – all types and applications
• cleaners and detergents
• poisons
• paint and paint products (latex and acrylic paint, oil-based paint, enamel, stains, lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, primers, etc.)
• cooking oil
• medical sharps in OSHA-approved, puncture-proof containers
• ammunition 

The Transfer Station’s normal disposal fees for automotive batteries, antifreeze, and fluorescent tubes are waived during HHW Collection events. Unwanted paint, used motor oil, and used cooking oil are always free to dispose of at the Transfer Station during regular business hours.

Medical sharps in a sealed, self-closing, puncture-proof, OSHA-approved container are received, at no cost, at the Transfer Station Scale House during business hours. Columbia County residents can enroll in the FREE Sharps Containers Exchange Program at the Transfer Station Scale House.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office accepts expired or unwanted medication at 901 Port Ave., St. Helens. They are open 7 days per week, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Place items in the MedReturn collection box.

For all other materials, including materials from Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs, <220 lbs./mo.) and liquids in containers larger than 5 gallons, call Mark Hayes | ACT Enviro (971.303.2972) at least 2 weeks prior to an event for an appointment.

The county collects and disposes of hazardous waste through safe, environmentally responsible practices, protecting the health of our communities and the environment. For more information, contact Jacob Anderson by phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov.

# # #

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county's unincorporated areas.

The Apiary Road Project east of the intersection with Highway 47 at Archibald Creek (MP 17.4), which has seen Apiary Road closed for several weeks, has been extended.

Columbia County's Roads Department and contractor, Tapani, have completed the planned replacement of a failing culvert with a bridge. Unfortunately, the concrete approach slab on the Vernonia side (nearest Highway 47) cracked during curing, possibly due to last week’s heat wave. Tapani has been working with the Roads Department to address the situation and not disrupt The Providence Hood to Coast Relay Race (commonly called Hood to Coast).

What to expect:

1. The Hood to Coast route will be open to participants. As the cracks in the slab are not a structural issue but a long-term maintenance concern, workers will grind and seal the damaged areas to provide participants and support vehicles with a stable surface. The organizers for Hood to Coast have been contacted and notified of this development.
2. After Hood to Coast, Apiary Road will be immediately closed to traffic. This closure will begin on 08/26 and last through 09/09. During this closure, the county will remove the damaged slab and pour a new concrete slab.

Questions or concerns can be directed to the Columbia County Public Works Department by emailing PublicWorks@ColumbiaCountyOR.gov or calling 503-397-5090.

# # #

Your household hazardous waste must be in your vehicle's bed, trunk, or hatchback - not the passenger compartment. Unloading may take a few extra minutes as extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, and please remain in your car.

The City of Rainier will host a county-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 8 a.m. until noon. The HHW Event will be held at 690 West A Street, next to the Rainier Sewage Treatment Plant. You can drop off various toxic and unsafe household materials at no cost.

Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from your vehicle. Items must be in containers of less than five (5) gallons and should be secured safely during transport.

Examples of acceptable items are:

 Do NOT bring:

The Rainier Police Department (106 West B Street) accepts expired or unwanted medication in their lobby. Place items in the Safe Medication Disposal collection box during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Medical Sharps containers can be obtained and exchanged at the Columbia River Fire & Rescue – Rainier Station (211 West 2nd Street) during business hours Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Unwanted paint products, used motor oil, and electronics are accepted free of charge at the Transfer Station during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

There here will be four additional county-sponsored HHW collection events in 2023. Future Columbia County HHW collection dates and locations are:

• June 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Helens Transfer Station;
• August 26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Helens Transfer Station; 
• October 7, 8 a.m. to noon in Clatskanie; and
• October 21, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Helens Transfer Station.

The HHW collection event schedule is available on the Columbia County website at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/hhw-schedule.

For more information, contact Jacob Anderson by phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov.

# # #

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY'S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM 

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs the recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county's unincorporated areas.

Your household hazardous waste must be in your vehicle's bed, trunk, or hatchback - not the passenger compartment. Unloading may take a few extra minutes as extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, and please remain in your car.

The City of Vernonia will host a county-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 8 a.m. until noon. The HHW Event will be held at Spencer Park at 377 Bridge St. (at the parking lot of the covered basketball area). If you are a Columbia County resident, you can drop off various toxic and unsafe materials at no cost.

Items must be in containers not larger than five (5) gallons and should be secured safely during transport. Trained HHW technicians will unload materials from your vehicle. 

Examples of acceptable items are:

 Do NOT bring:

Filled Sharps Containers (sealed, red, OSHA-approved, puncture-proof containers) are accepted at this event. You can also return them to the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District, 555 E. Bridge St. (Mon-Thu 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or call 503-429-8252 for appt.) and receive a free sharps container in exchange.

Did you know that Vernonia Hardware and Supply at 1026 Bridge St. accepts unwanted or used paint for free? Drop off your sealed paint container during business hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Thu, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri and Sat, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sun) for proper disposal.

The Columbia County Sheriff accepts unwanted or expired medication at 901 Port Ave., St. Helens. They are open 7 days per week, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Place items in the MedReturn collection box. 

Unwanted paint products, used motor oil, and electronics are accepted free of charge at the Transfer Station during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-Sat).

The next county-sponsored HHW collection will be on May 20, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Rainier. The complete HHW collection event schedule is available on the Columbia County website at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/hhw-schedule.

For more information, contact Jacob Anderson by phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov.

# # #

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY'S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM 

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs the recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county's unincorporated areas.

June 29, 2022

During a federally-declared storm event in December 2015, high water events caused damage and erosion to multiple culvert crossings along with the road surfaces. The culverts that were damaged in that storm are located on Apiary Road MP 12.2, Apiary Road MP 17.4 and Bennett Road MP 1.0. In response to the event crews with Columbia county Public Works Department temporarily stabilized the culverts to reopen the road. 

Columbia County has since obtained Federal funding to replace and upgrade the damaged culverts. Contractors for the County will conduct the culvert replacements this upcoming spring/summer 2023. Construction is anticipated March 2023 and run through September 2023. The work will include replacing the damaged culverts with larger structures, improving drainage, placing stone embankment protection, stabilizing the subgrade, installing guardrail, and repaving the roadway in the culvert locations. The culvert at Apiary Road 17.4 will be upgraded to a small bridge and the culvert at Bennett Road MP 1.0 will be upgraded to a 12’ wide box culvert. 

Some lane restrictions and traffic delays with flaggers are anticipated during construction for Apiary MP 12.2, however no road closures are expected. The County will close Apiary Road at MP 17.4 for 4 weeks and set up a detour route using HWY 47 to HWY 30 to Larson Road and then to Old Rainier Road to access the other side of Apiary Road. The County will also close Bennett Road at MP 1.0 for 6 weeks and set up a detour route using HWY 30 to Church Road and then to Hazen Road to access the other side of Bennett Road. The County will send out more exact dates as the project gets closer.

June 29, 2022

During a federally-declared storm event in December 2015, landslides occurred on Fern Hill Road at MP 1.0 near Rainier and on Meissner Road at MP 3.5 near Apiary. In response to the event crews with Columbia county Public Works Department temporarily stabilized the slide in order to reopen the road.

Columbia County has since obtained Federal funding to repair the damaged road sections on both roads. Contractors for the County will conduct the slide repairs this upcoming spring/summer 2023. Construction is anticipated March 2023 and run through September 2023. The work will include improving drainage, placing stone embankment protection, stabilizing the subgrade, installing guardrail for Meissner Road only, and repaving the roadway in the slide location.

Some lane restrictions and traffic delays with flaggers are anticipated during construction for Fern Hill Road, however no road closures are expected. The County will close Meissner Road for 4 weeks and set up a detour route using HWY 30 to Larson Road to Old Rainier Road and then to Apiary Road to access Meissner from the other side. The County will send out more exact dates as the project gets closer.

The Columbia County Public Works Department is operating a loan program that allows local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to borrow some county-owned Public Works Department's equipment, supplies, or materials. The borrowing of equipment by individuals or for personal purposes is not permitted.

Organizations must receive pre-authorization before borrowing any Public Works Department item(s). The first steps in completing the Columbia County Public Works Loan Agreement are to review the Loan Agreement Policy and submit a completed Loan Agreement form. Next, submit a completed loan agreement application to the Columbia County Public Works Department before the date that the items are needed, giving adequate time for review and approval by the Public Works staff.

Some of the items that can be reserved are:

• Variable Message Reader Board(s)
• Roll Up Flag Signs & Stands
• Orange Cone(s)
• Light Tower(s)/Generator(s)
• Barricade(s)
• Stop/Slow Paddle Sign(s)
• Safety Vest(s)
• Traffic Plate(s)
• Incident Response Trailer(s)

Links to the Loan Agreement Form and Policy are located on Columbia County’s website in the Borrowing Agreement section of the Public Works Permit & Applications page at: https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/PublicWorks/permits.

Weather is delaying the completion of the road work being performed on the Scappoose-Vernonia Highway. Work on one lane of the roadway has been completed, with work on the second lane postponed due to rainy weather.  "We do not want to make a muddy mess," says Mike Russell, Columbia County Public Works Director. "We are stopping work until we get some drier days."

Road crews will return to this section of the roadway to finish addressing a severe bump at approximately milepost 16 near Bonnie Falls. Completing this work is the first phase of a multi-part plan. Future work at this location will include profiling the roadway to reestablish the grade and superelevation. It is anticipated that this will occur at a later time when conditions are more favorable for paving.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the Columbia County Public Works Office at (503) 397-5090 or by email at publicworks@columbiacountyor.gov.

Expect Delays October 11 - 15, 2021

Columbia County Road Maintenance crews will be working on the Scappoose-Vernonia Highway at approximately milepost 16 near Bonnie Falls. Road work is scheduled to begin on October 11 and continue through October 15, depending on the weather. This will be the first phase of a multi-part plan and crews will return to this section of the roadway later this year to complete additional work.

Road crews will dig out a portion of the roadway near milepost 16 to address a severe bump at this location. Excavated materials will be hauled to a County-owned site on Sierks Road. One lane will be kept open during the road work, but drivers should expect delays at the site due to construction traffic and activities.

The construction schedule has crews starting work early at around 5:00 a.m. and working until at least 5:00 p.m. each day. Work zone traffic will be controlled by flaggers while crews are on-site. Please be aware of the flaggers and follow their direction.

Future work at this location will include profiling the roadway to reestablish the grade and superelevation. It is anticipated that this will occur soon after the initial dig-out work is complete.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the Columbia County Public Works Office at (503) 397-5090 or by email at publicworks@columbiacountyor.gov.

Travel will be restricted to one lane during work hours starting the week of August 15^th

 ST. HELENS, Oregon - A slide area near MP 4.0 on Scappoose Vernonia Highway will be repaired this summer under a contract between the Columbia County Road Department and Thompson Bros. Excavating, Inc. of Vancouver. Funded by help from the Federal Highways Administration through the Oregon Department of Transportation in response to storm damage experienced in 2015, the project will replace the damaged roadway and improve drainage. Drivers should expect to drive on a one-lane gravel surface through the site as work progresses.

Construction begins on Monday, August 16^th and Reader Boards will be placed approaching the site along with construction signing to alert drivers. If drivers want to avoid the area, they can use Apiary Road, but delays at the construction site should not be more than 20 minutes.

The project will involve excavating the roadway and reconstructing the side slopes. The project will also establish guard railing along the side of the road and will be topped off with new pavement through the construction site.

“Columbia County Public Works worked with the contractor to come up with a way to keep at least one lane open during work hours and then have both lanes open in the evenings and on weekends. The downside is that, to be as efficient as possible, traffic will have to run on gravel through the site,” said Mike Russell, Public Works Director.

Russell expects construction to be completed by Monday, September 6^th.

For more information, contact Columbia County Public Works at 503-397-5090 or email at publicworks@columbiacountyor.gov .

###

The Columbia County Road Department manages 550 miles of paved and gravel roads as well as 104 bridges. Its territory ranges from nearly sea level to 2,000 feet. In addition to road building, the department’s 21 employees also oversee signs, road striping, roadside vegetation, pothole repair, storm response, and regulation and permitting.