Composting

Support Zero Waste in Ulster County and Reject Polluting Incineration and So-Called “Waste-to-Energy” Projects

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In a recent post titled “Stop Exporting Waste, Oppose Polluting Incineration, and Tackle Waste at the Source in Ulster County” KingstonCitizens.org and TownOfUlsterCitizens.org exposed a troubling development: a bipartisan group of Ulster County legislators recently toured ReWorld’s so-called “waste-to-energy” incinerator in Hempstead, Long Island. The plant, formerly owned by Covanta but since acquired by Reworld, takes in more than 2,600 tons of primarily residential trash a day and after incineration produces up to 650 tons of ash, which is then dumped – in part if not all – at the Brookhaven Landfill.

The Brookhaven Landfill sits in the backyard of our friend Monique Fitzgerald—an environmental justice organizer and co-founder of the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group (BLARG). Monique lives in North Bellport, a predominantly Black and Latino community with the lowest life expectancy on Long Island and the second-highest asthma rate in Suffolk County. “The Brookhaven Landfill is the site of a major crisis,” Monique says, “polluting the air, land, and water of surrounding communities.”

In a recent letter to The Suffolk Times: “Waste to Energy Argument Doesn’t Hold Up“, she warned: “Labeling incineration as ‘renewable energy’ rewards polluters and harms vulnerable communities…Covanta (Reworld) Hempstead has repeatedly violated environmental standards. DEC’s failure to conduct in-stack monitoring has left critical gaps in understanding the true extent of pollution from this site. The Town of Brookhaven’s $1 million settlement falls far short of remediating the harm done to the community.”

Currently, Ulster County legislators are in talks with Sullivan County about exploring the potential of a ReWorld incinerator in Sullivan County that would require 500,000–900,000 tons of waste per year.  Sullivan produces just 120,000; Ulster produces 140,000. They’d need additional counties to partner in order to get their waste tonnage to meet ReWorld’s required threshold for operation. A 20-year commitment would lock both counties into a polluting system, and seriously undermine any credible path toward Zero Waste.

This is not an easy subject, and there are many moving parts around managing Ulster County’s waste.  For now, please consider attending tomorrow’s Ulster County Legislature meeting to speak during public comment. 

Take action. 

The public must act now to shut down any discussions about polluting incineration or so-called “waste-to-energy” projects for our trash in Ulster County, whether proposed in our county or elsewhere. Although these talks are currently happening in committee and not yet on the full county legislature’s agenda, the public can still make its voice heard. Community members are encouraged to show up at legislative meetings and speak during the public comment period on this issue before harmful decisions are made in the background.

 

WHAT

Provide public comment during Ulster County Legislature meetings

WHERE

Ulster County Legislative Offices located at 244 Fair Street, 6th floor

WHEN

The next one is Tuesday, May 20 at 6:45pm. They meet third Tuesday of each month

HOW

Sign-up to speak after 6:00pm on the 6th floor of the county building.  Comments must be no more than 2-minutes in length (approximately 260 words)

 

TALKING POINTS

To help you further, we’ve created this FACT SHEET with more information.   

    • Manage Waste Locally and Responsibly: Ulster County must take responsibility for its own waste instead of sending it to other communities that bear the environmental and health impacts. 
    • Say No to Incineration and so-called “Waste-to-Energy”: Incinerators and so-called “waste-to-energy” facilities pollute the air, harm frontline communities, and undermine real solutions to the waste crisis. These private businesses profit by burning more trash – not less – discouraging recycling, composting, and waste reduction. 
    • Ulster County 2020 Solid Waste Plan: The county’s 2020 Solid Waste Management Plan focused on zero waste strategies and not incineration. That commitment should be upheld, not reversed. 
    • Support a Zero Waste Implementation Plan: Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) is working toward a Zero Waste Implementation Plan. They must be supported to finalize this plan and create a public, transparent timeline so residents and legislators can track progress, support efforts, and avoid unexpected policy shifts. 
    • Support Proven Waste Reduction Strategies: Ulster County should explore successful models like Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (Act 148), fully implemented by 2020,  bans food scraps from landfills, significantly increasing composting efforts and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implement initiatives such as “pay-as-you-throw” programs. These approaches incentivize waste reduction and help shift us away from a throwaway culture toward more responsible, sustainable behavior.

Stop Exporting Waste, Oppose Polluting Incineration, and Tackle Waste at the Source in Ulster County

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WHAT
Provide public comment during Ulster County Legislature meetings

WHERE
Ulster County Legislative Offices located at 244 Fair Street, 6th floor

WHEN
The next one is Tuesday, May 20 at 6:45pm. They meet third Tuesday of each month

WHY
Urge the Ulster County Legislature to focus on managing our waste locally and transparently.  They must say no to polluting incineration or so-called “waste to energy” projects that are toxic, polluting and false solutions.  The public deserves a clear, accessible roadmap that outlines the county’s plans, proposed policies, and legislation posted on a public-facing web page. These steps should be guided by the Zero Waste Hierarchy, prioritizing waste reduction, reuse, and responsible resource management.”

HOW
Sign-up to speak after 6:00pm on the 6th floor of the county building.  Comments must be no more than 2-minutes in length (approximately 260 words)

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A collaborative post by KingstonCitizens.org and TownOfUlsterCitizens.org

New York State is known for its progressive environmental policies, but its waste management practices tell a different story. Every day, trash from cities like Kingston is hauled more than 500 miles round trip to Seneca Meadows, the state’s largest landfill, located in Seneca Falls, a small community of approximately 8,800 people. 1  These residents unfairly bear the burden of much of New York State’s waste – pollution, heavy truck traffic, foul odors, and long-term environmental degradation.  With the landfill’s permit up for renewal, residents are calling for its closure by December 31, 2025, 2 and we fully support their demand.  

Despite knowing for nearly a decade about the impending closure of Seneca Meadows, Ulster County still lacks a clear county-wide plan for responsibly managing its own waste.

Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (“UCRRA”) currently sends 140,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (“MSW”) and Construction & Demolition (“C&D”) debris to the Seneca Meadows landfill in Seneca Falls, which is approximately 253 miles each way, averaging 12 trips a day, six days a week. 3

At the same time, several of our Ulster County Legislators think incineration and other so-called “waste-to-energy” projects are a solution to waste management, but incineration is just another harmful approach that exposes those living nearby to toxic pollutants like dioxins, mercury and other highly toxic metals, nitrogen oxides (triggers asthma attacks) and fine particulate matter that threaten public health and the environment.  The process also generates toxic ash that is also being landfilled in a more concentrated, dangerous form. Incineration doesn’t solve our waste problem; it compounds it. 

Furthermore, it is inefficient at producing energy. For instance, the trash incinerator in Peekskill (the largest in the Hudson Valley) produces only 1/10th as much electricity as the Cricket Valley gas-fired power plant. 4

“Trash incineration is the most expensive and polluting way to manage waste or to make energy,” said Mike Ewall, Executive Director of Energy Justice Network and one of our longstanding, key partners. “It is dirtier than landfilling and, as the state has documented, is more polluting than coal burning.”5

The disparity in New York’s environmental policies

The push for incineration and then the continued reliance on exporting our trash to landfills and incinerators in other counties and states reminds us of our fracking moratorium. In 2014, the state banned hydraulic fracturing (fracking) due to its environmental and health risks. However, we continue to import fracked gas from other states.

New York’s climate goals also expose another contradiction: the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project. This hydropower initiative brings energy from Quebec to New York, but it comes at the cost of flooding rivers and disrupting ecosystems in Canada, displacing Indigenous communities in the process. 6 

If we are serious about environmental justice, New York must stop neglecting the communities bearing the brunt of our waste. The state has a history of greenwashing – promising change while allowing harmful practices to persist. Real progress means addressing our waste locally, not shifting the burden onto others. And instead of relying on harmful waste management methods like incineration or exporting trash to landfills and incinerators in other counties and states, we must focus on reducing waste at its source through systemic change, and develop our own in-county, publicly-owned disposal capacity to handle our own waste responsibly. This includes mandating composting to divert organic material from landfills and incinerators, banning single-use plastics and excessive packaging, and holding manufacturers accountable for the waste their products generate. Public education is crucial, as people need to understand the environmental impact of their consumption and what they can do to reduce it. Waste management solutions should be localized, equitable, and designed to serve, not burden, communities.

In Ulster County, composting should be mandatory, just like wearing a seatbelt. Just as seatbelt laws protect public safety, mandatory composting is essential for reducing waste, cutting methane emissions, and conserving valuable resources. It’s an easy, effective way for everyone to contribute to responsible waste management because, like seatbelt laws, it’s about the collective good, not just individual choice.

Reducing waste instead of investing in polluting alternatives

In 2024, the Sullivan County Legislature began exploring the development of a so-called “Waste to Energy” plant in the county. In January, Ulster County Legislator Kevin Roberts persuaded Sullivan County to pass a resolution opposing a landfill in Wawarsing, suggesting that Ulster County might instead partner with Sullivan to bring a Covanta facility to the region. 7

In April, a bipartisan group of Ulster County legislators and guests toured Covanta’s incinerator in Westbury, Long Island – a troubling sign that outdated, polluting waste management strategies are still being considered. Since the tour, proponents have been actively circulating Covanta presentations and research in support of a regional so-called “waste to energy” facility. At the May meeting of the Energy and Environment Committee, committee members – including three legislators who participated in the tour – held an extended discussion on the potential benefits of bringing this polluting plant to the region. 8

Let’s be clear: incineration is not a solution. Studies have shown that incineration (and landfilling toxic ash) is 2-3 times more harmful for health and environment than going directly to landfills without burning first, and most of the landfill impacts can be reduced if we keep food scraps and yard waste out of them by composting.  Instead of doubling down on harmful infrastructure, our leaders need to work with the public to develop systems that reflect the principles of the Zero Waste Hierarchy. This framework defines Zero Waste as the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health. It offers a guide for real systemic change that prioritizes waste prevention and community well-being. 

Ulster County already has a promising composting program, with plans in the works for its expansion. Our county legislators should focus on engaging the public to support the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency in investing in this program, rather than touring incinerators.  It’s a non-starter.

Take action. 

The public must act now to shut down any discussions about polluting incineration or so-called “waste-to-energy” projects for our trash in Ulster County, whether proposed in our county or elsewhere. Although these talks are currently happening in committee and not yet on the full county legislature’s agenda, the public can still make its voice heard. Community members are encouraged to show up at legislative meetings and speak during the public comment period on this issue before harmful decisions are made in the background.

WHAT
Provide public comment during Ulster County Legislature meetings

WHERE
Ulster County Legislative Offices located at 244 Fair Street, 6th floor

WHEN
The next one is Tuesday, May 20 at 6:45pm. They meet third Tuesday of each month

WHY
Urge the Ulster County Legislature to focus on managing our waste locally and transparently.  They must say no to  incineration or so-called “waste to energy” projects that are toxic, polluting and false solutions.  The public deserves a clear, accessible roadmap that outlines the county’s plans, proposed policies, and legislation posted on a public-facing web page. These steps should be guided by the Zero Waste Hierarchy, prioritizing waste reduction, reuse, and responsible resource management.”

HOW
Sign-up to speak after 6:00pm on the 6th floor of the county building.  Comments must be no more than 2-minutes in length (approximately 260 words)


CITATIONS

(1) https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/senecafallstownsenecacountynewyork/PST045224
(2) https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/04/02/demonstrators-protest-seneca-falls-town-board-s-approval-of-landfill-operating-permit
(3) https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/fs/projects/SWMF/Annual%20Reports_Solid%20Waste%20Management%20Facility/Annual%20Reports_by%20Activity%20Type/Landfill/Landfill%20Annual%20Reports%20-%202023/R8/50S08_Seneca_Meadows_msw_R8_2023.2024-3-1.AR.pdf
(4) https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia923/
(5) https://energyjustice.net/incineration/
(6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efSb1H2Aq0I
(7) https://citizenportal.ai/articles/2144459/Sullivan-County/New-York/Ulster-County-leaders-urged-to-oppose-controversial-landfill-near-Sullivan-County-border
(8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmAKJyOriuI

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

The City of Kingston’s composting program “rots”!

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Photo credit: Julie Noble

By Rebecca Martin

The City of Kingston’s composting program “rots”!

Composting is the process of  breaking down organic waste, like food scraps, to create nutrient-rich compost. This process involves rotting, or the destructive dissolution of organic matter. When we remove food waste from the waste system, with composting,  we are actively diverting food scraps from our regular trash and turning them into nutrient rich soil. It is essentially taking food out of the landfill where it would otherwise decompose and produce harmful methane gas; this helps reduce environmental impact and conserve resources used to produce food. 

According to the EPA, 22% of our waste stream is food scraps, meaning it is the largest single category of waste sent to landfills

Composting’s benefits include saving our community tax dollars. Kingston’s garbage is hauled more than 250 miles away to the Seneca Meadows Landfill. The tipping fees are extremely expensive and are getting more so with each passing year. 

As it pertains to environmental justice, Seneca Meadows Landfill is located in Seneca Falls, a small town of a little more than 9,000 people. They are enduring great harms living next to one of the largest active landfills in New York State that accepts trash from communities like ours.

Established in 1953, Seneca Meadows landfill has a permitted waste capacity of 6,000 tons per day. The landfill will reach capacity by the end of 2025, coinciding with the expiration of its existing permit. They want to profit as much as they can and kick the can down the road to expand their capacity by 47 acres and extend their permit in 2040.  Here’s what Seneca Lake Guardians, made up of community members living in Seneca Falls, think about that. We must understand  how we are contributing to their community harms and stop it.

Recently, Ulster County announced it wanted to find a landfill of its own in the county with much public outrage.  Now imagine how Seneca Falls community members feel about communities like ours sending our unending stream of trash there. 

It’s unjust and unfair.  

It’s why the county must approve its Zero Waste Management plan that it’s been working on for a long time, and why we endorse a landfill in Ulster County.  Why should we place the burden of our waste on a community 250 miles away? The only way that we are going to make changes is to take on the burden  right here at home.

Zero waste is key and composing is an opportunity for Kingston residents. Let’s get the ball rolling to take responsibility for what we are throwing out.  Sign-up to Kingston Organics.  I’ve taken pictures of my weekly haul to show you just how easy it is to get food scraps, meats, bones, etc. out of our waste stream.

Step one:
Make a designated can for all of your food scraps. You can capture meat and bones, too. I’ve lined mine with a bag that I can wash and use again for a couple of months of collection.
Step two:
I collect my food scrapes for a week to deliver on Sunday’s. Kingston has a number of locations that are close to you that you can deliver to.
Step three:
I visit the location in the Rondout to bring my food scraps for composing.
Step four:
There is a simple passcode to access the bins (you’ll get the code once you sign-up)
Step five:
Dump and go! By doing so, you’ve contributed to eliminating unnecessary food scraps from our waste stream, making less emissions and saving tax dollars in tipping fees from delivering our trash to Seneca Meadows, some 250 miles away.