The information collected below was taken directly from the report and edited for clarity and space.

Winter Bros., one of the leading providers of professional solid waste and recycling services on Long Island, recently released their “State of Waste” report, a review of the waste crisis facing Long Island. 

“The waste crisis Long Island is facing cannot be understated,” said Jimmy Winters, executive vice president and an owner of Winters Bros. Waste Systems. “The 2.9 million people who live on Long Island produce more than 14 million pounds of waste every day. We in the solid waste industry along with public officials, municipal officials, regulators, and community members must work together to develop solutions. Our hope and expectation is that our ‘State of Waste’ report is a step towards meaningful results.”

The report states that Long Island’s population produces over 2.6 million tons of municipal solid waste per year, not including an additional 5.3 million tons of waste that is produced from construction, renovation, and demolition projects annually. Most non-recycled residential waste is burned, and the ash residue is disposed of on Long Island, primarily at the Brookhaven Landfill. Most commercial waste from businesses, offices, stores, and restaurants is transported off the island for disposal. Of the waste that leaves Long Island, 91 percent is transported by truck, while the other 9 percent is transported by rail.

Outlined in the report are the environmental, public health, and economic issues that are confronting municipalities and businesses across Long Island in light of the closure of the Brookhaven Landfill, in 2024.

The report outlines the crisis and identifies 14 action steps to address it and improve waste management and recycling on Long Island. The report, according to Winter Bros., was prepared using information from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and local institutions, agencies, and organizations. 

“We know that Long Island’s waste management infrastructure will require local governments and the private sector to work together to reinforce all facets of waste management, including waste minimization, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and energy recovery through waste combustion.” he said. “We believe that municipal and private waste management professionals must collaborate to create a solid regional approach to finding solutions that address the waste crisis on an island-wide scale.”

The plan, he said, would require all parties working alongside the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to facilitate solutions, policies, and planning to successfully manage Long Island’s waste.
The report also focuses on improving infrastructure and advocating for zero-waste initiatives, more recycling, and the development of local markets and outlets for recyclables. To learn more about Winters Bros. or find the report, visit www.wintersbros.com.

LONG ISLAND’S WASTE

Long Island’s 2.9 million residents produce more than 14 million pounds of municipal solid waste each day. Another 29.1 million pounds of construction and demolition (C&D) waste are produced each day. The Brookhaven Landfill—which buries incinerator ash, C&D waste, and automobile shredder waste—is expected to close by 2024. The ash from the incineration process is disposed mostly at the Brookhaven Landfill. The Town of Babylon has an ash monofill, which accepts ash from the incinerator located in Babylon. Waste that is not burned is transported off Long Island and buried. Recyclables are transported to several recycling centers, where the material is processed, sorted and cleaned. Construction and demolition waste is typically delivered to transfer stations, where the material is processed and recyclables, such as concrete and metals, are recovered.

THE PROBLEM

There is a lack of disposal capacity for waste on Long Island, which drives the constant need for off‐Island transportation and disposal assets.

The lack of disposal capacity exists for both municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition debris (“C&D”).

Most of the commercial waste is already transported and disposed off-island.

The residential waste from at least five of Long Island’s townships (Oyster Bay, Riverhead, Southampton, Shelter Island and East Hampton) and two cities (Glen Cove and Long Beach) is transported off‐Island for disposal.

Between the residential garbage and commercial trash, thousands of tons a day of MSW are transported off‐island by truck.

Even with the Brookhaven Landfill and 110 Sand in operation, a significant amount of C&D debris is currently being transported off island by truck and rail.

Currently, the Brookhaven Landfill manages about 1.2 million tons per year of waste materials including C&D, waste from vehicle shredding and scrap yards, and ash from incinerators.

When the Brookhaven Landfill closes in 2024, approximately 60,000 trucks will be needed to haul the 1.2 million tons of waste that was going to the landfill (1,200,000 tons / 20 tons per truckload equals 60,000 trucks needed).

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

Create a regional approach for planning—In December 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS-DEC) adopted the current version of the “State Solid Waste Management Plan, Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York State – Beyond Waste.” Today, the state’s current solid-waste management plan (from 2010) is out of date.

Reduce waste at the point of generation—waste prevention as opposed to end-of-stream waste management.

Enhance rail infrastructure—Alternative modes of off-island transportation of solid waste must be developed and expanded. Additional cost-effective and environmentally sound methods and capacity to transport waste off-island is needed.

Enhance waste infrastructure—work together to expand on-Island waste management capacity, including recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion and energy recovery through municipal waste combustion.

Enhance recycling—All parties must work to make the system successful.

Develop and grow markets for recyclables—Markets for recyclables must be stimulated, expanded and sustained.

Advanced environmental justices-- The public has a right to participate in public decisions and actions that have an impact on their environment, communities, and neighborhoods. Fair and equal access to a safe and healthy environment is a basic human right.

Educate-- a consistent message for improving the quantity and quality of the curbside recyclables.

Pass legislation to close the loop-- create a state law that mandates that any unit of government that establishes a waste diversion goal must also establish a utilization policy that matches or exceeds the diversion goal.

Fix the bottle deposit law-- Revise and modernize the NYS Bottle Bill that was created back in the 1980s.

Develop outlets for organics and food waste—organic waste can be recycled and managed properly.

Develop solutions for ash management.

Be ready for the next storm-- Municipalities should develop storm debris management plans that identify transportation assets and the locations of
both temporary storage/transfer sites and permanent disposal sites for the management of storm debris.

Fight illegal dumping-- Prevent and minimize illegal dumping through an increase in monitoring and enforcement.