Dive Brief:

• A study prepared by the Center for Governmental Research of Rochester—a consulting firm hired by the Seneca Meadows Landfill—estimates that local taxes could more than double if the upstate New York site closes.
• A law has been introduced to the Seneca Falls Town Board for approval that would prohibit any solid waste facility from operating without a permit. The landfill's permit is set to expire in October 2017 and its operators have filed for an extension which hinges on the town's decision.
• The town received $2.7 million in revenue from Seneca Meadows as part of a host community agreement in 2015. The nearby town of Waterloo received $600,000.

Dive Insight:

While the law has been tabled for now, the debate continues among local residents. Many have complained about odors and want to see the landfill closed. The Seneca County Farm Bureau is concerned that the law's current language would negatively affect solid waste disposal options for farmers and wants it to be rewritten.

The main concern is what this will mean for the town's economy. According to Seneca County's Industrial Development Agency, the landfill is a "top ten" for-profit employer responsible for $4.4 million in wages and benefits within a 20-mile radius. The landfill also paid more than $400,000 in sales tax last year and provides free waste disposal to local residents.

Regardless of the town's decision, this has already had consequences far beyond Seneca County. A recent deal to export waste from New York City to the landfill via rail recently fell through after Progressive Waste Solutions pulled out of the deal. In addition to the company's then-pending merger with Waste Connections, community opposition was cited as one of the main factors.