The construction of a landfill right next to the Rensselaer City School District campus has raised concerns among residents of Rensselaer. The S.A. Dunn landfill permit was approved in 2012, leaving locals wondering how such a decision was made.
The campus of the Rensselaer City School District, which was established in 2008, caters to over a thousand students from kindergarten to twelfth grade in one of the region’s most disadvantaged cities. Adjacent to the school lies New York state’s largest construction and demolition dump, privately owned by S.A. Dunn & Company LLC. It accepts various materials such as asphalt, drywall, concrete, electrical wiring, and construction-grade plastics from seven states in the Northeast. The dump is separated from the school campus by a chain-link fence, running along its athletic fields.
The dump, locally known as “Garbage Mountain,” towers over Rensselaer’s riverfront and is visible from I-90 eastbound in Albany. Unfortunately, this unwelcome landmark emits foul odors and dust. Environmental groups have discovered dangerous levels of PFOAs, also known as forever chemicals, in Hudson River creek tributaries near the landfill and school. While no one involved with the dump, including the operators, local politicians, or the Department of Environmental Conservation, admits to deliberately putting schoolchildren at risk of exposure to toxins, the reality in Rensselaer suggests otherwise.
Before becoming a dump, the area adjacent to the school was a sand and gravel mine since 1830. The S.A. Dunn landfill website proudly showcases the property’s history through black-and-white photographs documenting its past mining operations. The message seems clear: the dump is an inseparable part of Rensselaer’s identity, as if it were destined to remain a burden forever.
Regrettably, the dump has indeed come to define Rensselaer’s identity. It portrays the city as vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged, lacking the means to combat the intrusion of a toxic dump near its public school. Students attending Rensselaer City Schools are forced to gaze at the dump from their classroom windows throughout their academic journey.
After almost two centuries of exploitation, Rensselaer finds itself at a crucial juncture. The S.A. Dunn dump’s 10-year operating permit has expired, and the Department of Environmental Conservation is currently reviewing its renewal. We are currently in the public comment period, allowing individuals to submit written comments via email or regular mail to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, a public comment session will be held on August 8th.
It is essential to reach out to the Department of Environmental Conservation and state legislators, demanding the closure of the S.A. Dunn dump to bring an end to this dark chapter in Rensselaer’s history.
(Jessica Welshans of Rensselaer is a member of the Rensselaer Environmental Coalition.)
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