Even though the first comment period is over, your comments will still have an impact if sent to the attention of the legislators – addressed to your own Sullivan County legislator as well as to recycling@sullivanny.us.

Hear Radio Catskill interview DCS Director Arrindell and Rebekah Creshkoff, Co-Founder of Beyond Plastics, on the Sullivan County Waste Management Plan.

Download a Summary of the Sullivan County Waste Management Plan as a pdf.

The NRDC explains why waste incineration is harmful.

Comments on the Waste Management Plan must be received by Tuesday, October 15.
Send comments by email to: recycling@sullivanny.us, cc: jessica@no-burn.org
Subject line should read “Comment on Sullivan County’s Draft Local Solid Waste Management Plan”
Send comments by mail to: Mark Witkowski, SCDPW Deputy Commissioner, PO Box 5012, Monticello, NY 12701

Update: In Europe, a strong association has been found between incinerators and toxins such as dioxin:

• Very high levels of dioxins found in domestic backyard chickens near the largest waste incinerator in Europe.
• Much of the soil in the centre of Lausanne, Switzerland is contaminated with dioxin, which is thought to have come from the Vallon incineration plant.
• Monitoring of the state-of-the-art waste-to-energy plant in Harlingen, Netherlands shows dioxin levels exceeding legal limits. Grass and eggs in farms up to 10 km away had high amounts of dioxins.

Incinerators release toxic air and water pollutants, like dioxins, PFAS, and mercury, that poison surrounding communities and the entire planet. They also generate hazardous waste in the form of toxic ash that must be dealt with.

But Sullivan County is considering building, likely with neighboring counties, a “waste-to-energy” (WTE) facility—that is, an incinerator—to burn our and other counties’ trash.

Download waste to energy talking points as a pdf.

An informational webinar was held on Monday, September 16 at 5 pm. We heard from scientists, advocates, and the real experts: residents of communities burdened with incinerators, who are paying the price with their health.

Watch the webinar here

Then bring what you learn on Monday to the county’s public meeting about its draft solid waste management plan, which includes a feasibility study on building an incinerator.

Add your important voice to the conversation:
Thursday, September 19 at 12 pm
Sullivan County Government Center
100 North St., Monticello

An incinerator would threaten our health, our environment and our economy. Help us protect Sullivan and the surrounding counties!

The pollution and “Put or pay” has resulted in the bankruptcy of several municipalities:
Why Communities Across America Are Pushing to Close Waste Incinerators
Controversial Detroit incinerator shut down after years