World
New York faces waste crisis as massive landfill seeks further expansion
New York's largest active landfill, which stands as tall as the Statue of Liberty, is seeking a multi-decade extension and further height increases. Local residents and officials are raising concerns over pollution and the growing volume of trash.
The Seneca Meadows landfill in upstate New York has grown to roughly 300 feet tall over several decades, taking in thousands of tons of daily waste from across the state, including New York City. Although locals had hoped the site would close when its permit expired, the operator Waste Connections has proposed adding more disposal cells and raising the trash heap by another 70 feet. The proposed expansion has sparked intense debate regarding environmental hazards, including pungent odors, groundwater concerns, and methane emissions that make the site a major source of greenhouse gases in the state. State authorities are currently weighing whether to grant the extension as questions mount over how to manage the state's growing volume of rubbish.
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