Climate Week 2024 is the perfect time to discuss Seneca Meadows and the more than four decades in which we’ve helped build the foundation of the Finger Lakes economy, and the positive role we’ve played in helping New York State reach its ambitious climate goals. Until there is zero waste produced by New Yorkers, the essential work of hauling and responsibly managing those materials is critical for every community across the state.

While opponents of Seneca Meadows continue to unfortunately use exaggerations, misinformation and distortions against our Valley Infill plan, local families know the real and lasting positive impact we’ve had in our community. Our neighbors know we’ve earned our reputation as a valued partner and trusted neighbor.
Seneca Meadows does not manufacture PFAS or use PFAS. Rather, Seneca Meadows receives discarded non-recyclable materials containing PFAS that are ubiquitous in residential and commercial waste streams. Landfills sequester the PFAS they receive. Landfills were identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a preferred option to manage PFAS impacted waste streams.
For the opposing viewpoint see: It’s time to close Seneca Meadows
In 2020, we applied to the state Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit extension for our Valley Infill plan. Once approved, we will continue to operate without increasing truck traffic or expanding our footprint. We continue to work with the DEC to earn final approval of the Valley Infill, and many of the ways in which we safely manage discarded materials are included in our recently submitted draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The EIS is a detailed plan for the ongoing DEC permitted operations and environmental upgrades at Seneca Meadows that continue to meet and exceed DEC and federal regulations that protect the air and groundwater, such as sequestration of materials containing PFAS utilizing industry leading state-of-the-art leachate treatment, additional 100 acres of geomembrane cover placed during operations not at landfilling completion, state-of-the-art H2S controls, renewable LFG to energy recovery and offsets, a new truck wheel wash station for dust suppression, and more—it’s all included in the EIS.
New York is in the process of instituting a series of bold environmental policies following the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019. Seneca Meadows will play a critical role in helping New York reach those environmental goals. The local men and women on our team proudly do this essential work every day!
Without Seneca Meadows there would be a dramatic increase in truck traffic on New York’s roads and bridges, resulting in more carbon emissions as thousands of additional trucks would be forced to carry non-recyclable materials much further away to other states with less-stringent environmental regulations.
For more than 40 years, Seneca Meadows has been part of the fabric of our community contributing to the economic, environmental, historic and cultural assets across the board. Let’s remember Seneca Meadows doesn’t produce waste. In fact, the men and women who work there do the essential work of safely and responsibly managing these materials on a daily basis. Furthermore, Seneca Meadows helps the many municipalities it services in New York and the region to reach their environmental goals by minimizing their carbon footprint.
The value of our local jobs performed by local residents cannot be understated; they live, work, and raise their families right here in the Finger Lakes. Let us not minimize or forget the investments we make in partnerships with local vendors, over $3 million annually. Our Host Community Agreements have generated $75 million of revenue for Seneca Falls and Waterloo. Those dollars help hold the line on local taxes and pay for critical emergency and essential infrastructure services in our communities. Without it, local governments would be forced to make tough decisions on future budgets affecting their taxpayers and local cost of living.
From innovative PFAS removing leachate treatment, to industry-leading landfill gas captured renewable energy generation, to world-class wetlands creation, we take our role as a steward to the environment seriously. We encourage you to visit our website www.senecameadows.com to see for yourself what we do.
We welcome a fact-based and thorough examination of our record and our plans to continue to be a part of the Finger Lakes’ bright future and playing a critical role as an environmental guardian in the Northeast.
Kyle Black is Seneca Meadows district manager.
The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].
I’m quite sure Kyle Black did NOT author this response. In fact, SMI pays quite well for public relations from a firm that has no ties to the Finger Lakes. Let’s take a look at some of the half truths and misinformation in this puff piece.
Saying that SMI has helped build the foundation of the Finger Lake economy is ludicrous! Texas based Waste Connections, the operator of the landfill, has been profiting mightily off the dumping of garbage from 42 counties, 4 states and even Canada since acquiring the original landfill, the Tantalo hazardous waste site. The real foundation of the local economy is the work that generations of local residents have made in building a robust agriculture and tourism based economy that employs 60,000 and contributes over $3 billion to New York’s economy every year. SMI is antithetical to that vision.
Black goes on to say that SMI has played a “positive role … in helping New York State acheive its ambitious climate goals.” It doesn’t take a very deep dive into documents that the landfill is required to submit as part of its application to find staggering numbers of FUGITIVE emissions of greenhouse gases (what their “state of the art” landfill gas capture technology can’t capture), including methane, up to 80 times more potent than CO2.
Mr. Black also addresses the PFAS issue by claiming that landfills sequester PFAS that is ubiquitous in landfill leachate and makes the claim, oft repeated, that SMI utilizes “state-of-the-art leachate treatment.” What he always fails to mention is the fact that SMI only has capacity to treat less than 1/5 of the leachate that they produce, the portion that is sent to the local wastewater treatment plant. The rest, nearly 50 million gallons annually, is trucked, untreated, to facilities across NY State that don’t have the technology to remove PFAS before it is discharged into our waterways and drinking water sources.
“We take our role as steward to the environment seriously.” Seriously?
Mr. Black is also proud of all the money that SMI contributes to the 2 towns that have host community agreements. He neglects to mention all the money his PR firm spends on propaganda in attempts to install pro landfill candidates on the town boards.
I won’t address the rest of the platitiudes in this opinion piece. Suffice to say, it isn’t necessary to use exagerations, misinformation or distortions against their massive expansion plans. All the information is supplied by SMI; you just have to look at it with a critical eye.