Rensselaer County leaders push back on Dunn landfill permit

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Shutting down the Dunn Landfill has long been discussed in Rensselaer County and quality of life concerns are the reasons why. NEWS10 was at the county meeting where legislators and community members took sides against the governor.

The Dunn Landfill has been in operation since 2015, and now after 10 years Rensselaer County leadership and community members are asking the governor to take a second look at the approval that is keeping the landfill open for another three years. In a unanimous vote, county legislators approved the resolution Tuesday night. A sentiment echoed by the crowd. 

“It should be closed immediately,” said Jessica Welshans. She lives in Rensselaer County and although she does not have kids, local news reports have given her concern. “They gave testimony that they do not like going out for recess because they can smell the landfill. Several student athletes said that they're embarrassed to have track meets and football games at their campus because the other schools would make comments that they're going to school and playing their games right next to a landfill.”

Other residents said the noise and traffic congestion was another main concern. “We count the number of trucks going up the hill and coming in each direction. And it's you know, we see those big five, six, seven axel trucks coming up, making lots of noise, lots of diesel exhaust. You know, it's a horrific situation,” said Tom Ellis.

There was also the concern of pollution coming from the landfill. “And we're totally against what they're doing to the river. For one thing, the PFA is going in the air pollution,” said Frank Bergman with the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance.

A spokesperson at the DEC said they issued a renewed and modified permit to the landfill after a rigorous review process.  He said there will be a 30% reduction in daily diesel truck traffic to and from the facility. A reduction in the allowable daily truck limit from 100 to 70 trucks, and an approximate 30% reduction in the hours that vehicles are allowed to operate carrying construction, demolition and mined martials to and from the landfill. Additionally, the permit requires the landfill to fund $150,000 in greenhouse gas or co-pollutant emissions reduction project(s).

The Division Landfill Manager with Waste Connections said, "We’ve made significant investments in environmental infrastructure, and the monitoring data collected by SA Dunn and DEC is conclusive. The extensive air and water quality monitoring done at the request of area residents has shown SA Dunn has no negative impact.”

However, some residents at the meeting disagreed saying there was not enough testing done. There is no timeline on when to expect an answer from the governor.