New survey of 700+ residents underscores public health risks as New York considers whether to allow expansion of the state’s largest landfill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2025
Contact: senecalake@berlinrosen.com
Seneca County, N.Y. — A new survey of more than 700 local residents reveals alarming local health and quality of life impacts near the Seneca Meadows landfill, New York’s largest landfill and likely the state’s largest single point source of methane. The survey reveals widespread concern and suggests serious threats to public health, economic activity, environmental quality, and community well-being in the Finger Lakes region.
Key findings from the survey include:
- Children on the front lines: 60% of respondents have or had children living near the landfill, and 56% have children attending school nearby.
- Health impacts: Among households within 10 miles of the landfill, 26% reported someone diagnosed with cancer or heart disease, and 27% reported asthma or other respiratory issues. Forty-two respondents said someone in their household had experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth. The area has already been identified as a cancer cluster, with lung cancer rates 30–35% higher than in other areas.
- Odor and quality of life: 69% report smelling the landfill at home, 53% at school, and dozens of households have reported needing to remove their children from school due to odors.
- Community dissatisfaction: 83% of respondents are dissatisfied with how elected officials have handled the issue, 62% say their quality of life has been affected, and 53% believe their property values have declined. More than half (53%) have considered moving entirely.
This new data is being released at a pivotal moment for the Finger Lakes region. Seneca Meadows’ operating permit expired on December 31, 2025, the date the landfill was projected to reach capacity, yet the facility continues to operate while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation considers whether to grant Waste Connections a new permit that would enable a 15 year extension and expanding the landfill by 47 acres and 7 stories. The survey offers timely, community-level evidence of the human impacts at stake as the state decides whether to allow the landfill to continue operating or enforce its closure.
“The survey confirms what local residents have been saying for decades: living beside Seneca Meadows impacts our health, homes, and everyday life,” said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian and lifelong Finger Lakes resident. “Families are facing real threats from the landfill, from odors to carcinogens to declining property values. And yet, we’re being left in the dark and unsure what will happen now that the landfill is reaching capacity. It’s time for clear action from decision-makers to protect our community and our environment by shutting down Seneca Meadows once and for all.”
Community members and advocates are calling on the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce the landfill’s closure when it reaches its permitted capacity, and deny the proposed expansion. Residents are also urging state leaders to commission an independent health impact assessment to evaluate the long-term effects of landfill operations on surrounding communities before any further decisions are made.
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About Seneca Lake Guardian
Seneca Lake Guardian is a New York State not-for-profit Corporation with 501(c)(3) and is dedicated to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes, its residents and visitors, its rural community character, and its agricultural and tourist related businesses through public education, citizen participation, engagement with decision makers, and networking with like-minded organizations.