Student Petitions to Stop Rensselaer Landfill

Brittany Hammond, Biology major taking courses at HVCC and SUNY Albany, started an online petition last week to stop the creation of a landfill at 259 Partition St., Rensselaer. The petition closed on Thursday with a total of 108 signatures.

“I oppose this proposed landfill and I feel that economically, environmentally and for the public health of the community, this landfill would not be a good idea,” said Hammond. Hammond forwarded the petition to Nancy Baker, DEC representative, in time for the Feb. 17 public comment deadline. Hammond expressed concern for the health of local residents, the safety of children in nearby schools, and the sanctity of the environment, including local water bodies. She also felt that the issue is particularly relevant to HVCC students.

“This is important to HVCC because the proposed landfill site is located very close to Hudson Valley and some of the commuters more than likely live within a mile or two of its location,” said Hammond. The proposal to create the landfill has been put forth by the S.A. Dunn Sand & Gravel Company, which is seeking permits to reclaim its mine on Partition St. for debris disposal. This proposal has caused many local residents to become alarmed. A public hearing about the landfill took place on Feb. 6, and according to Hammond, about 50 citizens attended and voiced their concerns about this issue.

Hammond said she is concerned that the landfill’s creation poses a considerable threat to the health and safety of local residents. Her grandparents live on the same street as the proposed landfill site, which is also in close proximity to city schools. “There will likely be pollution from the trucks’ exhausts to and from the proposed landfill site. Diesel fuel exhaust contains many known and suspected cancer causing chemicals. At the very least, this exposure could lead to respiratory problems, including asthma,” said Hammond.

If the landfill is created, the company will be permitted to have up to 100 trucks every day transporting debris back and forth from the site, between 6:30 am and 5:30 pm. Hammond expressed concern about the implications of nine trucks going up and down the street every hour.“Think of all the noise and stress pollution those trucks would bring to the community. Also, if the trucks are not sealed properly, we risk letting debris fall into the streets, or even worse; into local streams… which empty into the Hudson,” she said.

Hammond also said, “While some have argued that this landfill would stimulate the economy, I beg to differ. This landfill will only create money in the hands of very few people, mostly those who own the land at the site.”
In addition to petitioning, Hammond has also taken other measures to spread awareness of this proposal and to try to stop the creation of the landfill. “I emailed most of my old professors at HVCC, spoke to one of my ecology classes at SUNY Albany; I contacted the school’s sustainability club, and spoke at the Rensselaer City Hall public hearing,” she said. Although Hammond’s petition is now closed and the public comment period has ended, the petition, along with the signers’ comments, can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/ petition/say-no-to-rensselaer-city-landfill/signatures