Romulus Incinerator

The Finger Lakes are facing an enormous environmental, public health and economic threat that few people know about. There is a new proposal to build a massive garbage incinerator in the town of Romulus, New York, less than 4 miles from the shores of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. If approved, it would be built at the old Seneca Army Depot, just a few hundred yards away from the Romulus K-12 public school. It is also near Hillside Children’s Center, a residential facility for troubled youth, the 5 Points Correctional Facility, Willard Drug Treatment Center and the Seneca County Jail, making this an environmental justice issue.

Seneca Lake Guardian is the lead organization fighting this proposal with a three-pronged approach. We’re working with State decision-makers to pass a bill that would prohibit garbage burning facilities within the Finger Lakes Watershed, we’re assisting the Town of Romulus in its defense against Circular enerG in two Article 78 lawsuits, and we’re preparing to be a party in a potentially lengthy Article 10 proceeding against the project.

Circular enerG (not a typo) was incorporated just over one year ago and they have no track record of ever handling municipal solid waste, let alone building and operating a massive garbage burning incinerator.

The incinerator would burn 2,640 tons of garbage each day – making it one of the largest incinerators in the country. The 260-foot smoke stack would emit lead, mercury, acid gases, nitrogen oxides and dioxins in a region that is home to hundreds of wineries and vineyards.

Incinerators emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide, often more than coal plants, making climate change worse.

It is projected that 238 huge trucks hauling trash would rumble through the Finger Lakes region each day, and additional trucks would remove the toxic ash. Eventually, the company may rely on trash trains to import garbage from a vast geographic range.
As the Finger Lakes is poised to grow its agricultural economy, including grapes and wineries, and is really getting a foothold as a tourism destination, this is the last thing this region needs.

The pastoral landscape of Seneca County is already disrupted by Seneca Meadows, an existing giant landfill. There are better ways to deal with solid waste. It is time to fully embrace waste reduction, recycling and composting as the foundations of a sustainable solid waste policy.

Local zoning would prohibit this facility from being built in Romulus. Initially, Circular enerG applied for a variance. But they have now changed course and decided to circumvent the local government and go to the New York State Siting Board for approvals. The state’s Article 10 Power Plant Siting Law allows garbage incinerators to be included in the expedited siting process. This process overrides the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and gives the siting board the option of ignoring local zoning and local laws that would block construction of the incinerator.

The residents of the Finger Lakes need your help.

Join the Business Coalition

Sign your organization on in opposition to the Romulus IncineratorMore Info

Seneca Lake Guardian Business Coalition

Seneca Lake Guardian is a pro-business, pro-economic coalition supporting the developing tourist industry around Seneca Lake.More Info

INCINERATORS IN TROUBLE

What Are The Problems With Waste Incineration?

Waste incineration is a flawed approach that is expensive, polluting, and inefficient; aging incinerators are causing trouble with toxic emissions, odor, fires, financial insecurity, and environmental injustice.More Info

A Dirty Waste—How Renewable Energy Policies Have Financed the Unsustainable Waste-to-Energy Industry

The end of the 20th Century saw a major shift in the United States’ approach to energy policy. After decades focused on fossil fuel production, the country began to realize that renewable sources of energy were the way of the future. Governments relied on both mandates and tax incentives to encourage the use of energy from sources like solar and wind power. Waste- to-Energy (“WTE”) power is another form of energy production that is classified as renewable. This Note summarizes the WTE pro- cess and the laws that allowed it to grow, argues that WTE is not economical- ly sound or environmentally sustainable, and proposes legislative changes to prevent more harm from WTE in the future.More Info

Three Ways To Fight The Incinerator Now

The residents of the Finger Lakes need your help. Here are four ways you can help today.More Info
Incinerator Viewshed

The Incinerator Viewshed

Want to see if you will see the incinerator IF it gets built?More Info

Hidden emissions

A story from the Netherlands
Case Study

Although presented as state of the art, the youngest incinerator in the Netherlands is far from a clean: long-term tests reveal emissions of dioxin, furan and persistent organic pollutants far beyond the limits.

The case of the REC plant raises important questions for future policy-making concerning waste incineration and its potential effects on public health and the environment.
More Info
Regional Governments and Organizations Opposed to Romulus Incinerator

Regional Governments and Organizations Opposed to Romulus Waste Incinerator

Everyday opposition builds to the Romulus Waste Incinerator. Want to see if your local government or partner organizations are opposing the incinerator?More Info

GAIA Information Sheet

Garbage Inciineration is Dirty Energy

GAIA (Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives) information sheet on incinerators.

Waste burning facilities are the most toxic, expensive, and climate-polluting energy industries in the U.S.
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Statement of Evidence

Particulate emissions and Health

Statement of Evidence
Particulate Emissions and Health
by Professor C. Vyvyan Howard MB. ChB. PhD. FRCPath.
June 2009
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Watch: Trash Incinerator Forum

On Jan. 7, 2018 we hosted an independent expert on how the impacts of the proposed “Waste to Energy” train trash facility at the Seneca Army Depot in the Town of Romulus would effect the Finger Lakes region.

You can watch an archive of our live stream of the Trash Incinerator Forum here.
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Watch: Seneca Lake Guardian Press Conference

Legislative Office Building Albany, NY

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Title Date

NY governor signs legislation to stop WTE project

UPDATE: May 28, 2019: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill (A5029A) on May 24 aimed at protecting "the Finger Lakes region from the adverse effects of the siting of newly constructed incineration facilities." The legislation effectively blocks plans for a new $365 million Circular enerG incinerator in the Finger Lakes region.
FLX Incinerator Victory!

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Stop Waste Incinerators in the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act to Protect Region’s Environment, Quality of Life and $3 Billion Wine and Tourism Industry

Romulus, NY – Two months after the New York State Senate and Assembly both unanimously passed the legislation to stop toxic incinerators in the Finger Lakes, Governor Cuomo has officially signed the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act into law, showing how committed the Governor is to protecting the environment and local businesses of the region.

Help Stop Dirty Garbage Incinerator in the Finger Lakes

Call Today!

With the budget finalized, it's time for the Governor to sign the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act of 2019 into law.  This bill would prohibit the construction of garbage incinerators within the Finger Lakes Watershed.

Judge Hears Lawsuits Against Romulus by Incinerator Corporation Circular enerG

Reserves Decisions on all motions

Waterloo, NY- In a packed courtroom, the Honorable Judge Doyle heard two Article 78 proceedings filed against the Town of Romulus by garbage incinerator applicant Circular enerG.

Judge reserves decisions on Romulus incinerator cases

WATERLOO — After listening to oral arguments for about an hour Friday, state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle reserved decisions on two Article 78 proceedings initiated by the company interested in building a trash-burning incinerator in Romulus.

Lawsuits addressed in Romulus trash incinerator hearing

WATERLOO, N.Y (WENY) -- In the Seneca County Courthouse Friday morning, Circular EnerG and the Town of Romulus voiced their sides regarding a potential trash incinerator to coming to the town, at the former Seneca Army Depot. The hearing addressed two lawsuits filed against Romulus by the Rochester-based company challenging a zoning determination, and the town's revised zoning laws. For Circular EnerG, it hopes to come out on top after the ruling. 

INCINERATORS IN TROUBLE

What Are The Problems With Waste Incineration?

Waste incineration is a flawed approach that is expensive, polluting, and inefficient; aging incinerators are causing trouble with toxic emissions, odor, fires, financial insecurity, and environmental injustice.

Save the Finger Lakes

Stop the Incinerator

It has been such a beautiful beginning of summer in the Finger Lakes. Clean air and clean water are the foundation for a vibrant wine and agriculture industry. It is what keeps the tourists coming back. But, that is now at risk if the proposed garbage incinerator in Romulus goes forward.

Urgent: Assembly Vote Today

Call your Assembly Person Now!

TODAY (Tuesday, June 19th) - We have an opportunity to kill the proposed garbage burning facility in Romulus, NY, if we act swiftly. There are bills proposed ( S8109b/A11214) which, if passed in the Assembly and the Senate, then signed by Governor Cuomo, would prohibit garbage incineration in the Finger Lakes.

Public Service Commission Requests Revisions to Circular enerG’s Public Involvement Program Plan for Article 10 Application

Circular enerG Seeks to Build NY’s Largest Trash Incinerator Facility in the Finger Lakes

In a letter released today, staff of the New York State Department of Public Service requested revisions to Circular enerG’s Public Involvement Program Plan (“PIP Plan”) for their Article 10 application on their proposal to build the state’s largest trash incinerator facility in the Finger Lakes. The letter requested the developer to revise several aspects of the plan, most notably explain how it will overcome local zoning laws, describe the impact on the wine and tourism economies and describe the source of the garbage.
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