Solid Waste Management (SWM) Planning
On December 27 of 2010, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) adopted the latest version of the State Solid Waste Management Plan entitled "Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York State - Beyond Waste". This Plan sets forth sustainable and comprehensive strategies through 2020 with resulting goals and targets at the State and local level through 2030.
The long term goal of New York State is to reduce waste disposal to 0.6 pounds per person per day by 2030, by maximizing waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery and significantly reducing the amount of waste destined for management in a municipal waste combustor or for disposal at landfills.
The Plan sets forth a strategy that emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility between the community, stakeholders, and both local and State government focused on developing an environmentally, economically, and socially sound management structure for all waste generators in the State.
Involvement of the Local Government
Planning units are recognized organizational-structures that are responsible for developing and implementing a successful Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) for the communities of the State. Planning units are critical contributors to achieving the State's goals.
Planning units are any of the following:
- A county
- Two or more counties acting jointly
- A local government agency or authority established for the purpose of managing solid waste
- Two or more cities, towns, or villages or any combination of them, or
- A combination of any of the above that the DEC determines is capable of implementing a regional integrated solid waste management program for those cities, towns or villages.
Currently, there are 69 recognized planning units in the state.
For more information about planning units, refer to 6 NYCRR Part 360.2(b)(164).
Municipalities Non-Affiliated to a Planning Unit
There are 43 municipalities that are not affiliated with a recognized planning unit for solid waste management planning purposes. Non-affiliated municipalities are critical stakeholders to achieving the State's goals and are responsible to developing and implementing a Comprehensive Recycling Analysis to ensure a long-term recyclables recovery program that maximizes the recovery of recyclables and reduces the amount of waste managed through disposal.
For more information about comprehensive recylcing analysis, refer to 6 NYCRR Part 360.11.
More about Solid Waste Management (SWM) Planning :
- State Solid Waste Management Plan - New York State plan for the management of solid waste.
- Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) Development - Description of the contents required on an approvable LSWMP.
- Status of Local Solid Waste Management Plans (LSWMP) - List of planning units and information about the status of their LSWMPs.
- Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) Public Participation - Requirements for planning units to make LSWMPs available for public review and comment.
- Review and Approval Process of a Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) - Formal process of getting the Planning Units LSWMP reviewed and approved by the DEC.
- Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) Biennial Update - Planning Unit's responsibilities after the LSWMP has been approved. Including submission of Annual Reports and Biennial Compliance Reports.
- Tools and Resources - A list of links and ready-to-use tools for the development of an LSWMP.
