EUGENE, Ore. — Lane County could soon become one of the first jurisdictions in Oregon to use drones to inspect its landfill for methane leaks, a move officials say would improve safety, efficiency, and environmental monitoring.
Current Inspections Pose Risks
The county’s Short Mountain Landfill, located just south of Eugene, is its single largest operational source of greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, methane inspections are performed on foot — a process that takes about two full days.
Inspectors, often hired through consulting firms, walk the steep terrain carrying handheld detectors. The work is not only slow but can be dangerous.
“It makes it a huge safety concern that you could slip, trip, fall down this thing, and it could be disastrous,” said Jesse Berger, a Lane County Waste Management engineer. Workers have also reported run-ins with wasps, skunks, and dense blackberry thickets.
How Drones Could Help
According to Berger, a drone could scan the entire landfill in just four hours, drastically reducing labor time. Drones are also expected to be more accurate in locating methane leaks, which contribute significantly to climate change…