NYC Mandatory Composting: A Key Step in Reducing Landfill Waste
A June 2023 New York Times article provided an in-depth look at NYC’s food waste mandate focusing on the methane produced by organic waste and the mounting issues faced by landfills. The article reported that only 17% of the city’s waste is recycled, with little to no enforcement. Recently, New York City required property owners to begin composting, an optimistic next step in reducing waste sent to landfills (New York Post, 2024). Given that households generate around 54% of the city’s food waste (NRDC, 2017), this policy could make a meaningful difference in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Seneca Meadows Landfill Seeks Permit Renewal
However, the struggle to meet New York State’s goal of increasing waste diversion is even more evident upstate. Seneca County’s newly released Solid Waste Management Plan stresses recycling, composting, and waste diversion, yet it overlooks a significant issue—the Seneca Meadows Landfill.
In an Ovid Gazette opinion piece, Yvonne Taylor addressed this contradiction, stating:
“We’re facing a pivotal moment. The Seneca Meadows landfill is planned to close in 2025, but its operator, Waste Connections, is seeking a renewed permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation to extend operations through 2040.”
Taylor highlighted how Seneca County’s stance contradicts the State’s waste reduction and sustainability commitments.
Call to Action:
This is a critical time for public input. We have the chance to shut down New York’s largest landfill by 2025. There will be a hearing in Ovid on October 8th at 6:00 PM. Immediately following the hearing, the Board will vote on a resolution urging the DEC to further investigate health concerns related to the landfill’s expansion. We’re asking residents to attend, speak, and encourage the Board to vote “yes” on the resolution.
Let’s make our voices heard and stand against extending the lifespan of this landfill!
When: October 8th at 6:00 PM
What: Seneca County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Where: Historic Three Bears Courthouse, 7175 North Main Street, Ovid, NY 14521
