They say all politics is local. However, Waste Connections, the multi-billion-dollar Texas corporation that owns the Seneca Meadows landfill, has taken that expression to a whole new level.
For four years, I had the honor to serve my town, Seneca Falls, as a member of the Town Board. That came to an end in 2021 when I lost my seat to candidates hand-picked by Waste Connections. They poured a staggering $200,000 into their election campaign, which dwarfed the $15,000 in combined contributions from the two incumbents fighting to retain their seats on the five-member board.
What does Texas want with my Town Board? Waste Connections has had a vested interest in Seneca Falls since the 1980s, when it opened the largest landfill in New York state, the Seneca Meadows landfill. Over the decades, this landfill has grown to thirty stories tall and now accepts 6,000 tons of trash daily.
While this might be old news, the consequences of the 2021 election are being felt more than ever. With the landfill’s planned closure in 2025, Waste Connections saw an opportunity to act. They viewed the Town Board election as the perfect moment to buy out local political power. Soon after their election, the two Waste Connection-backed members voted in favor of negotiating a new host community agreement with Seneca Meadows.
The ultimate decision lies with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and it has severe consequences for the Finger Lakes region and New York as a whole. These consequences include degraded air and water quality, high volumes of polluted leachate, increased exposure to chemicals that can cause serious health issues, such as lung cancer and respiratory illness, and the shame of living in the shadow of a massive, foul pile of garbage. Will the DEC interpret the Town Board’s favor towards the landfill as a reflection of the community’s attitude towards this growing tower of waste?
My story probably resonates with small towns across the country. Corporate spending is wiping out local elections, aiming to manipulate residents’ opinions in favor of the bottom line. While the issues may vary, the playbook remains largely the same.
Corporate spending distorts how elected officials represent the citizens they are meant to serve and strips communities of their voice and autonomy. The influence of corporations in local politics is a major and growing concern. Studies indicate a significant increase in corporate spending on elections since the 2010 Citizens United decision, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited money on elections.
Democracy crumbles when corporate influence outweighs the voice of the people.
This brings me back to the beautiful town of Seneca Falls—the birthplace of women’s suffrage, rich with natural beauty, and in the heart of the greatest wine country east of California. Are we really willing to sacrifice all of that to the highest bidder?
For decades, Seneca Meadows has been polluting the Finger Lakes region and New York as a whole. The landfill ships polluted wastewater laden with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—forever chemicals that can cause widespread contamination of drinking water and harmful health impacts, including cancer—to counties across the state. These counties lack the technology or capacity to process this toxic water before it enters their waterways and drinking water sources. This practice is dangerous, unsustainable, and unjust.
It has been empowering to witness other communities rallying around Seneca Falls in the face of Waste Connections’ interference. Eight municipalities in the Finger Lakes region and Monroe County have formally opposed extended operations at Seneca Meadows. I can only hope that statewide elected and agency officials recognize that these actions, along with the efforts from local grassroots organizations, genuinely reflect the future we desire for our region.
The battle against the landfill expansion not only concerns our town and preserving our environmental health but also stands as a resistance against corporate overreach in politics. It is about ensuring that our voices are not drowned out by the roar of deep corporate wallets. Texas does not have the right to speak for Seneca Falls.
Doug Avery is a former Seneca Falls Town Board member.
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