Invitation to Public Meeting on Solid Waste Management Plan and Toxic Substances
Addressing the Urgent Need for Responsible Sewage Sludge Management: Steuben County Citizens Advocate for Sustainable Solutions at Tompkins County’s Public Meeting on its 10-Year SWMP
Zero Waste Ithaca Press Release
For Immediate Release July 7, 2023
Ithaca, New York – The Thurston town supervisor and a group of other concerned Steuben County residents will voice their concerns during the county's public meeting on the newly released 10-year Draft Solid Waste Management Plan for Tompkins County (TC SWMP). The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. in Borg Warner Room at Tompkins County Public Library on 101 E. Green Street.
The 10-year draft TC SWMP reveals that an increased amount of sewage sludge, referred to as "biosolids" by the industry, would be sent to Dickson Farm in Thurston, Steuben County, for land application. This practice has sparked nationwide outcry due to the high concentration of heavy metals and PFAS, known as forever chemicals, found in sewage sludge. In Maine, where this practice has been ongoing for decades, several farmers have gone out of business due to PFAS contamination, leading to the enactment of a complete state ban on land application of sewage sludge last year.
Michael Volino, town supervisor of Thurston, expressed his frustration with the draft plan, stating, "This is infuriating. I see this as a draft proposal. Toxic sewer sludge is being taken from affluent Cayuga Heights to be land applied in rural, poverty-stricken Thurston. I would like to speak to the Tompkins County Legislators directly."
Zero Waste Ithaca aims to support the residents of Thurston in ending the trucking of sludge from our county to their community. Earlier this year, Zero Waste Ithaca and other allies around the state adopted a resolution urging the New York State Legislature to ban the land application of sewage sludge. Zero Waste Ithaca now calls on the Tompkins County Legislature to adopt such a resolution, which includes a new clause specifying an immediate end to the export of sewage sludge outside the county for land application.
This request is a key component of the group’s Plastic Free July Campaign, covering three legislative appeals to the Tompkins County Legislature: 1. Pass Skip the Stuff law, 2. Ban the land application of sewage sludge, and 3. Prohibit the installation of new artificial turf.
Zero Waste Ithaca encourages concerned citizens, farmers, and environmental advocates to join them in contacting their representatives and demanding an end to the export of sewage sludge for land application.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Zero Waste Ithaca Email: info@zerowasteithaca.org Guests from Thurston will be available for interviews upon request before or after the meeting.
This invitation should be sent to Superintendent of the Lansing Central School District, Chris Pettograsso. Lansing voters recently narrowly approved the application of artificial turf on the high-school playing fields. Ithaca College is already in the process of, or has already applied artificial turf to their field as well. They need to be fully informed of the consequences of their decisions.