More than a few eyebrows were raised earlier this month when the town of Seneca announced it would survey residents to get their thoughts on the Ontario County landfill in their town.
Geneva Town Supervisor Mark Venuti, a member of the County Supervisors Planning and Environmental Quality Committee, says he thought the landfill’s closing in 2028 was a done deal.
The town has hired Causewave Community Partners of Rochester to conduct the survey. The results of the survey will be used to decide what to do when the landfill’s operating permit expires in six years. Any decision to expand the life of the facility would be made by the town, the county, and the DEC. State law does not allow a public referendum on the issue. The 389-acre facility off Routes 5 & 20 is operated by Casella Waste Systems, which makes annual payments to the county.
Rochester firm will help town of Seneca gather input on future of Ontario County landfill
Public information sessions will be held at the three fire halls in town this summer, and a survey will be sent to residents.
Smaller landfill would not be economically viable
Venuti says he would not necessarily be opposed to the landfill’s continued operation if it were to accept only locally-generated waste, but he says that would not be financially viable for Casella or any other private operator. He says the Finger Lakes have done their part as a dumping ground for other people’s trash.
Listen to my full Inside the FLX conversation with Mark Venuti below.
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