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Landfill siting and expansion debates played out across multiple states in recent weeks.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable developments:
Two upstate New York sites owned by Waste Connections in the spotlight
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation renewed permits for Waste Connections’ Dunn Mine and C&D Debris Landfill in Rensselaer in late December. The permits now expire Dec. 22, 2027.
The site has drawn pushback from local residents, in part because of its proximity to a local school, and environmental advocates hoped to shut the facility down. Some local officials are working with the Sierra Club to file a lawsuit appealing the decision, as reported by the Times Union.
The DEC’s permit reduces Dunn’s allowable truck traffic from 100 roundtrips per day to 70, plus 10 trips from “zero-emission” vehicles, and reduced its operating hours. The company is required to deposit $150,000 into an account for a Disadvantaged Community Benefit Fund and conduct a study about the feasibility of constructing a vegetative barrier in one area to limit effects on the community.
The overall mine site is more than 71 acres, which is being converted to C&D disposal cells in 10 phases. The landfill’s final capped area will be 62 acres. The site’s footprint will also be slightly reduced to build an earthen berm.
Meanwhile, about 180 miles west, Waste Connections is also engaged in legal and regulatory efforts to allow for the expansion of its Seneca Meadows Landfill — the largest in the state.
Seneca, which is currently permitted to accept up to 6,000 tons per day, is attempting to expand. DEC is currently accepting comments on the company’s draft environmental impact statement and recently extended that deadline to Jan. 31, as reported by the Fingers Lakes Times.
Yet the site could be forced to shut down on Dec. 31 due to a local law passed in 2016 by the town of Seneca Falls. A Waste Connections subsidiary has been challenging this in a protracted legal process. A lower court previously ruled that the law was invalid, but the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division ruled on Dec. 20 to reverse that decision. The company now plans to appeal that decision to the state’s highest court.
Health board again moves to block Win Waste landfill expansion in Ohio
The Seneca County Board of Health in Ohio moved to deny Win Waste Innovations an operating license for its Fostoria landfill in a unanimous vote on Dec. 12. It's the latest attempt by the board to block the landfill's continued operation and planned expansion.