Umatilla County awaits answers from waste disposal companies
By Terry Murry on Friday, May 22nd, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners has tabled a rate increase request from the new owners of Pendleton Sanitary Service. Board Chairman Dan Dorran said they “definitely need some clarification” regarding the request. He said it was tabled because the rate request was not clear in regard to mileage outside of city limits.
In a work session earlier in the week, Dorran said they talked to Waste Connections, which also owns Hermiston’s sanitation company and found issues there that needed clarification. That includes the new owners’ interpretation that service was only for county roads since there are state highways in unincorporated areas.
“I think it’s kind of growing pains for Waste Connections,” he said. “Everybody has a different business model. I think for them to operate with the business model they want, they’re going to have to come to the commissioners and request some differences, but they’re going to have to justify them.”
Dorran said there are bigger questions at stake.
“It probably has turned into a bigger issue,” he said. “It’s going to take some time to make sure that we get it right.”
He added that Waste Connections is in the business of making money and he has no argument with that.
“The new franchise agreements cannot be built on the backs of the customers,” he said. “You can’t just keep piling fees and fees and fees.”
File photo of Commissioner Dan Dorran
