Deschutes County, OR. — Deschutes County has selected Jeff Merwin as its next Solid Waste Director following a nationwide recruitment, county officials announced.
Merwin will replace longtime director Tim Brownell, who is set to retire March 21 after leading the department through a period of significant growth and regulatory change.
County Administrator Nick Lelack said Merwin’s experience makes him well positioned to lead the department at a critical time. The county is currently working through the process of siting a new landfill and implementing requirements under Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act.
Merwin has served as Compliance and Infrastructure Manager for Deschutes County Solid Waste since April 2023. In that role, he helped oversee construction of the Negus Transfer Station in Redmond and contributed to projects including the Knott Landfill renewable natural gas initiative and ongoing landfill siting efforts.
Prior to joining Deschutes County, Merwin spent five years as landfill manager in Crook County.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from Oregon State University and has completed additional graduate work in environmental health and occupational safety.
As director, Merwin will oversee operations at Knott Landfill and multiple rural transfer stations across the county, including facilities near Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, and Alfalfa.
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