Garbage Landfills

Seneca Lake Guardian is working diligently to help close the Seneca Meadows Landfill (SMI) by 2025.

Things You Should Know about SMI:

• SMI, located in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of Women’s Rights, is the largest landfill in NYS
• There are 27 landfills in NYS
• Waste Connections, SMI Parent company through RSNY Made 301,000 available in the 2021 election to get Pro-Landfill candidates elected
• SMI is permitted to accept 6,000 tons of waste daily
• SMI is permitted to produce up to 100,000 gallons of toxic leachate per day
• SMI is currently required to stop receiving waste and halt operations by Dec 31, 2025 due to Local Law 3 of 2016 in the town of Seneca Falls.
• SMI is looking to expand beyond 2040 with their “Valley Infill” expansion which would more than double their existing airspace and add a 6.9 story height increase.
• SMI accepts 36% of NYC’s garbage annually
• SMI is in violation of their current Town Code
• SMI is in violation of their Host Community Agreement
• SMI is in violation of NYC Part 211.1 DEC regulations
• SMI is suing the town of Seneca falls, costing the taxpayer
• SMI operated without an approved license to operate from the town for 2+ years
• SMI allows Trucks all through the night after closed hours to sit and rot with their stench over night before filling during operating hours.
• Over 95% of Municipalities in the USA operate without landfill revenue.
• Between the last two SF TB elections Waste Connections contributed almost $400,000 to get pro landfill candidates elected.
• If expanded until 2040 that would equate to 28.5 million tons of trashed dumped in Seneca Falls
• Exit 41 is the gateway to the finger lakes
• SF is the birthplace of Women’s Rights
• SMI was asked to come to the table and work with the town to address odor reporting, they said no.
• Since 2018 there have been nearly 500 complaints Confirmed by SMI of Odor on site ranging from 1-12 miles away from the landfill.
• On multiple dates, the DEC onsite monitor checked NI for not inspected.
The Valley Infill will be on top of the hazardous Tantillo landfill buried beneath SMI.


In the News

Texas Waste Giant Wrote $200,000 Check To Help Flip Seneca Falls Board In Favor of Seneca Meadows Landfill

Title Date

Greenidge Bitcoin Mining / Seneca Meadows Landfill

Urgent: Important Action Updates and Resources!

Public comments on Greenidge's air permit appeal are due on October 31, and the public hearing is this coming Monday, October 24. We encourage all of you to send in written comments and/or sign up for Monday's hearing! 

Seneca Lake Guardian Refuses to be Bullied into Silence By State’s Largest Landfill

Seneca Meadows Threatening SLG w/ Legal Action for Educating the Public on the Dangers of Landfill to Air, Water and State's Climate Goals

Countdown to Deadline: Don’t Sit This One Out!

We have until this Friday, January 27th to submit comments to the DEC regarding NY's largest landfill, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Seneca Meadows Landfill was slated to close in 2025, and instead, they've applied for an expansion (seven stories higher than it is now!) and an operating extension through 2040.

Last Call for Commenting on NY’s Solid Waste Plan and its Impact on Seneca Meadows

Last Day for Comment Thursday, June 29th

Until June 29, the Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting public comments on the Draft Solid Waste Management Proposal. We need YOU to submit a comment.

Join us August 2nd-Oppose Landfill Expansion

On Wednesday, August 2nd at 11 am, Waste Connections is hosting a public meeting at Seneca Falls Community Center to discuss its plans to expand New York’s largest landfill.

Join us Tuesday, 9/5 in Seneca Falls

The Seneca Falls Town Board is considering a new Host Community Agreement with Texas-based Waste Connections that could extend the life of NY's largest landfill beyond its planned closure date of 2025, bringing in more profit to the town, in exchange for polluting the state for 15 more years.

Outrageous. Two Meetings on the Landfill scheduled this week

We know how difficult it is to plan on attending one evening meeting in a week let alone two, and perhaps that is exactly why the Seneca Falls Town Board scheduled a meeting to review the Town's revised Comprehensive Plan the day before the already publicized public input meeting scheduled by the landfill.

URGENT: Seneca Falls Board Pulls Another Fast One

The Town of Seneca Falls has scheduled to bring back a vote on its Host Community Agreement with Seneca Meadows Landfill at tonight's Board meeting starting with a Public Hearing on the Town's Comprehensive Plan at 6:00 pm, 130 Ovid St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-2300, United States.

Seneca Meadows is upping its game. We need to fight back

Seneca Meadows has learned that cities, towns and villages across the region are speaking out against its expansion, and they’re trying to counteract these efforts. 

Urgent Action Needed in Seneca County

We have been informed that the Seneca Meadows Landfill is trying to get resolutions of support for its expansion in every Town in Seneca County.  They were successful in getting a resolution of support from the Town of Varick last month, and aim to get more this month.