Monroe County Executive Adam Bello invites residents to help shape the future of the county’s Local Solid Waste Management Plan through meetings and public feedback

Monroe County, New York – Monroe County is asking residents to play a direct role in shaping how waste and recyclable materials will be managed for years to come, as officials begin gathering public feedback for the county’s next Local Solid Waste Management Plan.

County Executive Adam Bello announced a new public engagement effort that invites residents, businesses, and local organizations to share ideas through an online survey, public meetings, and community events. The feedback collected will help guide the development of Monroe County’s Local Solid Waste Management Plan for 2028 through 2037, a document required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to be updated every decade.

The long-term plan serves as a roadmap for how the county will safely and responsibly handle the nearly 2 million tons of waste and recyclable materials produced across Monroe County each year. It also establishes priorities for reducing the amount of material sent to disposal sites while encouraging environmentally responsible and financially sustainable practices.

County officials say the planning process is an opportunity to review current programs, identify future needs, and ensure Monroe County remains prepared for changing demands in waste reduction and resource management over the next 10 years.

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“Building on decades of progress, Monroe County is developing its next-generation Local Solid Waste Management Plan to guide how materials are managed over the next ten years,” said County Executive Bello. “I encourage everyone to get involved in this important process and share feedback on how we can divert and reduce waste.”

The Local Solid Waste Management Plan covers a broad range of services and infrastructure that help manage waste generated by households, businesses, and institutions throughout the county. Those systems include recycling facilities, transfer stations, composting operations, landfills, and water resource recovery facilities that work together to safely process and manage materials.

County leaders believe public participation is essential because residents use many of these services every day. Input from the community can help identify priorities, improve existing programs, and highlight opportunities to expand recycling and waste diversion efforts in the years ahead.

Officials also pointed to the county’s accomplishments under the current solid waste plan, noting that Monroe County has continued to expand programs aimed at reducing waste while making disposal safer and more convenient for residents.

“From increasing the amount of material diverted through recycling and composting programs to becoming the first county in New York State to offer residents a safe disposal option for vape devices, and celebrating 15 years of successful operation at the ecopark, Monroe County has continued to make meaningful strides toward the goals outlined in our current plan,” said Mike Garland, Director of Monroe County’s Department of Environmental Services. “This next phase of planning will help ensure we remain well-positioned to meet future challenges and opportunities in sustainable materials management.”

Residents who want to contribute can complete an online survey designed to gather opinions on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and other materials management topics. The survey is available through the county’s Local Solid Waste Management Plan website.

In addition to the survey, Monroe County will host two public meetings where community members can learn more about the planning process and provide feedback directly to county staff.

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The first meeting will take place virtually on July 27 from noon until 1 p.m. A second public session is scheduled for Aug. 3 at the Monroe Community College Brighton Campus, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is encouraged for both events.

To help ensure the meetings are accessible, the county will provide assistive technologies, language translation, American Sign Language interpretation, and adaptive strategies for participants who request accommodations at least five business days before the meeting.

Beyond the scheduled meetings, the Department of Environmental Services plans to meet residents where they already gather by attending a variety of festivals, farmers markets, and community celebrations throughout July and August.

County representatives will be available at the Cornhill Arts Festival on July 11 and 12, followed by the Hamlin Junk Jamboree on July 18. Additional outreach events include Bridging Communities: A Riverside Celebration on July 25, the Gates Farmers Market on Aug. 2, the Westside Farmers Market on Aug. 4, the Irondequoit Farmers Market on Aug. 6, the Fairport Farmers Market on Aug. 8, the Brockport Farmers Market on Aug. 9, and Rochester Vegfest on Aug. 23.

At each event, residents will have an opportunity to learn about the Local Solid Waste Management Plan, ask questions, and share suggestions that could influence future policies and programs.

County officials say the outreach effort reflects their goal of collecting feedback from a wide range of voices across Monroe County. Whether through an online survey, a public meeting, or an informal conversation at a community event, every comment received will help inform the next version of the county’s long-range strategy for managing waste and recyclable materials.

Additional information about the planning process, registration for the public meetings, and access to the online survey are available through Monroe County’s Local Solid Waste Management Plan website.