MONTICELLO – The Sullivan County Legislators held a public hearing on February 16 to discuss the various issues and possible solutions regarding the disposal of solid waste and garbage as prior methods and locations of disposal will become unavailable in the near future.

A large percentage of the County’s garbage currently heads to Seneca Meadows landfill which is slated to stop accepting new trash in 2025, meaning time is of the essence.

“We do believe as a Legislature that deconstruction is better than demolition,” Legislative Chairman Rob Doherty said. “75 percent of our electricity comes from either solar or hydro [power] and as a county, we want to take that thinking and move forward on how we’re going to handle our garbage.”

According to Doherty, composting makes up roughly 33 percent of the county’s waste.

Sullivan County Recycling Coordinator Kassie Thelman confirmed that the current recycling rate throughout the county sits at around 32 percent, and that although there is no readily available answer from either the Federal Government or the State of New York on the county’s garbage disposal issue, generally reducing the use of materials across the board is the best way forward. 

Public Works Commissioner Ed McAndrew, noted that the renewal of the operating permit for the landfill is not currently complete, with the acquiring of additional information for the required SEQRA documents being one of the next steps in the process.

McAndrew stated that a proposal for initial composting procedure is to collect composting materials in the Monticello facilities, and from there, move the materials to the resource recovery agencies in Ulster County, with hopes in the future to develop Sullivan County’s own sites and additional treatment facilities.

Doherty agreed with McAndrew that this proposal is the first “baby steps” in finding the solution to the garbage and waste problem, stating that it is “not a solution that is going to happen overnight.” This initiative was also proposed as to be part of a “multi-pronged attack”, as not one company or organization can come in and fix this problem single handedly.

The draft document for the 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan will soon be ready to receive input from the Legislature. Within that plan, the various avenues and options of garbage disposal for the county are to be laid out. Cornerstone Environmental of Middletown is assisting in the construction of the draft. When completed, it will then be submitted to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

For the time being, it is encouraged by the Legislature for Sullivan County residents to increase backyard composting and try to reduce the amount of garbage produced as much as possible.

Public Talks

The public was invited to speak on the garbage and waste disposal issues.

Callicoon resident Rebekah Creshkoff stated that there needs to be a cultural change on the view of reducing and reusing within the county, going from linear use to circular use with zero waste being the goal. Creshkoff noted that overall reducing waste is the best way moving forward.

The idea of keeping garbage disposal local was brought up by Town of Mamakating resident Chris Lesser, who suggested that the county should look into opening up and maintaining a landfill for Sullivan County resident-use only.

Catherine Scott noted that there is no magic solution to the issue. Referencing prior discussion of a committee being formed to address the garbage and solid waste issues, Scott asked if that had  happened yet. 

Doherty said a committee has been formed, but have yet to meet.

The garbage and solid waste discussions are expected to continue in the future. Scott asked that the Legislature consider holding a public hearing on the matter during the evening hours, so people who work can attend and provide input.