Columbia Slough -- St. Johns Landfill

St. Johns Landfill: Evolution of A Dump
by PSU student Erin Atkins

The City of Portland in 1929 by vote of the people approved a bond issue in the sum of $300,000.00 for the purpose of acquiring a site for and constructing thereon an incinerator plant which was then and still is sorely needed for the proper disposal of garbage. Central Labor Council of Portland, May, 1931

Today it is easy to miss the 238-acre St. Johns Landfill. It is hidden behind a hill and locked inside a gated fence on Columbia Boulevard. The landfill seems almost park-like, as grass covers what was once a major waste disposal site alive with activity. The surrounding industrial businesses camouflage the area, but this was not always the case.

The landfill, encircled by the Columbia Slough, was once a wetland, home to an abundance of wildlife, plants, and fish. Through the years, industrial growth in the St. Johns area and growth of the landfill, have altered this ecosystem. The high contamination levels in the Columbia Slough are partly due to waste disposal at the landfill.

Controversy surrounded the landfill's opening and its closure, and the St. John's Landfill continues to headline newspaper articles today.