New Lebanon, NY – Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia/Dutchess Counties), Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-41) announced that they secured $2,000,000+ in the 2024-25 New York State Budget to cap and close the New Lebanon landfill. This funding will allow the Town of New Lebanon to finally begin proper mitigation of the landfill, which has been under order to be closed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) since 2009.

The Town of New Lebanon has been on a waiting list for the DEC’s Non-Hazardous Municipal Landfill Closure Projects since 2011, with little movement in 13 years. Since being ordered to close, PFAS has been discovered in the landfill, which is just uphill from the local public school, town hall, and hamlet. Financing this project would raise the town's annual budget by 20%-25% in this municipality of less than 1,000 households. With the support of Speaker Heastie and funding secured in the state budget, the Town of New Lebanon will receive the funding necessary to cap this landfill to protect the community and comply with state law.

“The Town of New Lebanon’s landfill was ordered to be closed more than 15 years ago. While the Town has been on a waiting list for funding, the presence of PFAS and other harmful pollutants made it clear that this site needed to be remediated as soon as possible,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. “As we celebrate Earth Week 2024, I’m pleased to announce that in partnership with Senator Michelle Hinchey and full support from Assembly Speaker Heastie, we have successfully secured $2 million in this year's State Budget to close the New Lebanon landfill, ensuring a cleaner environment and safer community for generations to come.”

“It’s great to be kicking off my annual statewide tour here in New Lebanon with Assemblymember Barrett on such an important project,” Speaker Heastie said. “Closing this landfill will allow the town to comply with state law without placing the burden on the town residents, benefiting residents as well as the local environment. We know that towns can’t always do it on their own, and we will continue fighting to help get municipalities the resources they need.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “For nearly 20 years, New Lebanon has waited in line for state funding to close its landfill as required by the DEC, and I’m incredibly proud that in just our second year of representing Columbia County in the State Senate, we’ve been able to help deliver the funds needed to finally shut this site down. Clean air, water, and a healthful environment are rights we’ve enshrined in the NYS Constitution, and it is our responsibility as a State to give our municipalities the tools to uphold these rights. Capping the New Lebanon Landfill will help protect residents from toxic pollutants and taxpayers from bearing the cost, and I thank Assemblymember Barrett for her partnership in securing these critical funds.”

“I would like to thank Assemblymember Barrett, Senator Hinchey and Speaker Heastie for securing funding in the NYS budget to help the Town of New Lebanon close the old landfill. This has been an issue needing to be addressed for years now and with the recent PFAS contamination found at the testing wells and at the local high school, it became that much more urgent,” said New Lebanon Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling. “The cost of closing the landfill was prohibitive for the Town to be able to do alone and we are so grateful for our partnership with our NYS elected officials to allow the safe closing of the landfill to protect the well-being of all of the members of our community!”

“As superintendent of The New Lebanon Central School District I am thrilled to hear the news that Senator Hinchey and Assemblyperson Barrett were able to secure funding for the New Lebanon landfill,” said New Lebanon Central School District Superintendent Andrew Kourt. “This is a community that cares about our students, families, and citizens. This funding and your support will only make our wonderful New Lebanon community a better and safer place to live and raise a family. Thank you Senator Hinchey and Assemblyperson Barrett for your advocacy.”

“Following the recent announcement by EPA of strict standards on PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals, this allocation of funds to close New Lebanon’s decades old landfill, which has tested positive for PFAS, shows the commitment that our legislators have to the communities they serve. We are grateful for this investment in preventing the potential spread of PFAS in our aquifers and drinking water,” said New Lebanon Town Board member and Climate Smart Committee Chair Steve Powers. “Special thanks to Assemblymember Barrett, Senator Hinchey and Speaker Heastie for their resolve in securing the funding. Once completed, New Lebanon residents will be able to drink their well water without having to worry about this potential source of pollution.”