NY Court Upholds Seneca Falls Landfill Closure Law

Roadside view of the large, grassy Seneca Meadows landfill under an overcast sky, with trees and utility poles.
A view of the Seneca Meadows landfill in Seneca Falls, New York, which is the subject of ongoing debate regarding its closure.

The New York Court of Appeals has declined to hear an appeal from Seneca Meadows Inc. (SMI), effectively upholding Seneca Falls’ Local Law 3.

The 2016 law requires the closure of SMI’s landfill—the largest in New York State—by December 31, 2025. With the state’s highest court dismissing the appeal, the law remains in full force.

The decision issued on Thursday comes after the town board voted 3 to 2 last month to give the landfill a local operating permit through 2040 and approved a new host community agreement with SMI if the DEC allows the landfill to expand.

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Local Law 3 has faced multiple legal challenges since its passage, as SMI has sought to extend operations beyond the mandated closure date.

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