Covanta Energy-from-Waste Facility
4850 Brooklake Road, NE · Brooks, OR 97305
Jenna Bosco (503) 393-0890 x210
This is where the majority of the garbage from Marion County is burned and turned into electricity. Students will see how the garbage is managed and burned. They will learn how electricity is generated and the complex array of safety measures and machinery that is needed to operate the facility.
Details: The tour lasts 1 hour. Tour day is normally Tuesday anytime between 9 am to 2 pm. Tours can not be larger than 40 students. Tours are available for students in the 2nd grade or older. Tours are given rain or shine. Your group may want to drive over to the North Marion County Disposal Facility at 17827 Whitney Lane NE, Woodburn, OR to see the ash landfill after taking this tour. Please make prior arrangements to visit this site by calling (503) 365-3191.
3334 Industrial Way NE · Salem, OR 97303
Gaelen McAllister (503) 581-1984 x 3117
This organization works with adults that have disabilities. They operate a large recycling facility in Salem. Their tour is very informative and a lot of fun for students of all ages. Students will see adults with disabilities engaged in meaningful work, huge sorting equipment and enormous piles of paper.
Details: tours are the First Friday of each month on a reservation basis. Private tours for groups can be arranged by contacting
gmcallister@garten.org or by calling (503) 581-1984 x3117
3680 Brooklake Road NE · Brooks, OR
Jamie Pedersen (503) 390-4000
This facility is where many of our recyclables in Marion County are initially sorted. Students will see the machinery and workers dividing up a wide range of materials.
Details: The tour lasts ½ hour. Tours can be given Monday – Friday from 9 am to 1:30 pm. There is no restriction on the number of students. The facility can be cold (especially in the winter), so dress appropriately. Tours given rain or shine.
29175 Coffin Butte Rd · Corvallis, OR 97330-9583
Tino Barreras (541) 286-331
The Coffin Butte Landfill is owned by Republic Services and is located just north of Adair Village and south of Monmouth on Highway 99W. This landfill receives waste primarily from Linn and Benton Counties, and surrounding areas. Students will learn about leachate and how methane gas from the decomposing material in the landfill is burned and turned into energy. Time permitting, students can also visit Pacific Region Compost, where yard debris and food scraps are collected and turned into compost.
Details: Tour length can range from 1 – 3 hours, depending on what the class' interests are. Groups are limited to 10 unless coming in a school bus. This is an outdoor tour, so dress appropriately. Rainy months will have limited access to these facilities.
8712 Aumsville Highway · Aumsville, OR
(503) 749-3117
This is the facility where yard debris from some curbside collection programs is taken and composted into an excellent soil amendment.
2895 Faragate St. S, Salem
This is the facility where contractors and remodelers come to take their inert waste. Since this is the site of an old, unlined landfill, no materials are accepted that could potentially cause runoff that would affect the river. Most of the leaves from the Salem & Keizer fall leaf haul are taken here. Long rows of compost are turned over with a large tractor. Much of this compost is used to restore the riparian zone and support the native tree species that were planted by Marion County and community volunteers in 2001.
1230 Broadway St, NE - Salem, Oregon
Kirk Seyfert
The Northwest Hub is a bicycle reclamation and distribution program serving Salem residents in need of transportation. They restore and recycle used bicycles and divert bicycles from area landfills in order to mobilize the community through creative reuse of an underutilized resource. Their social enterprise also serves the alternative transportation needs of residents who can purchase a refurbished bicycle or learn to repair and maintain their bike through the repair training courses and work stations they provide.
Details: For an informative tour or to help with our reclamation and recycling efforts, please email your request to our e-mail address. Tours and volunteer opportunities are available Wednesday-Friday from 10AM to 6PM.
