Lane County could soon among the first in Oregon to inspect its landfill with drones

Lane County could soon be the first landfill operator in Oregon to use drones to search for methane leaks, a harmful greenhouse gas.

Jesse Berger, a Lane County Waste Management Engineer who has made the trek himself, said it takes about 2 days to inspect Short Mountain Landfill on foot.

Berger said the county usually hires a consulting firm to inspect the landfill for methane leaks. Workers, who carry a handheld device and wand, have encountered skunks, wasps and blackberry brambles.

The older parts of the landfill can also be dangerously steep.

“It makes it a huge safety concern that you could slip, trip, fall down this thing, and it could be disastrous,” he said. “From a safety standpoint, a drone is a great idea for us.”

Berger said a drone should be able to inspect the entire lan