Regional Solid Waste Management Authority Feasibility Study

In January 2010 Albany County was awarded a New York State Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant of $55,000.00 to complete Phase I of our Solid Waste Management Authority Feasibility Study. New York State will provide 90% of the funding and Albany County will provide the 10% local share.  keep reading »

Final Regional Solid Waste Management Study

Study Finds Regional Solid Waste Management Authority Would Save Money and Increase Recycling

The final Regional Solid Waste Management Authority Feasibility Study is now available. The study recommends the formation of a Regional Solid Waste Authority to achieve significant benefits, including cost savings and increased recycling rates.

CLICK HERE to VIEW THE FULL REPORT [PDF*]

Albany County completed the study with the assistance of a project steering committee consisting of representatives from 13 Capital Region municipalities and authorities and consultants from Barton & Loguidice, P.C. and Gerhardt, LLC. The study analyzed solid waste management in a 9-county area (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Washington) and was funded by the New York State Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant Program.

County Executive Mike Breslin said, "Solid waste management is a regional challenge and should be addressed with regional solutions. If we work together, we can develop a comprehensive, integrated and efficient management system. We can do it better and save taxpayers a lot of money."

Some of the highlights of the study include:

• The creation of a new regional authority is feasible and could result in significant cost savings and operational and environmental benefits.
• Potential savings from economies of scale could be in the range of $10.8 to $15.84 million per year.
• A coordinated regional recycling program could quadruple the volume of materials currently recovered in the study area.
• Consolidation of existing local solid waste planning units would pool resources, streamline governance and save time, staff and money.
• Establishing a single collection system for a municipality or a group of municipalities reduces the collection costs in areas served by several private collectors.

The study recommends the development of an inter-municipal agreement that would allow communities to opt in as part of an authority formation team that can work to address concerns and build consensus.

"The report correctly points out that significant cost saving would result from the establishment of an authority by eliminating duplicative services and gaining economies of scale," said Gene Kelly, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director. "In addition, Capital Region communities would realize greater capture of recyclables through consolidation."

"In light of today's challenging economic times, an increasing number of local governments are working collaboratively in an effort to trim costs and overcome common challenges," said Deputy Secretary of State Dede Scozzafava, who oversees the Department of State's Local Government Efficiency program. "According to the study, this project, if implemented, could potentially merge six solid waste planning units into one authority. This regional consolidation could result in substantial savings and the improved delivery of government services. We look forward to working with New York's Capital Region counties as they explore alternatives to make government more efficient."

Project Schedule

A list of milestone target dates. Learn More »

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answers about solid waste management and the feasibility study. Learn More »

Online Resources

Links to other useful websites which can provide more information. Learn More »

Project Steering Committee

The Project Steering Committee consists of representatives from each solid waste planning unit/municipality that agreed to participate in this study. Learn More »

Project Advisory Committee

The Project Advisory Committee consists of representatives from each of the more than 20 municipalities that submitted letters of support for our grant application. Learn More »

Meeting Documents

The project Steering Committee and Project Advisory Committee will be holding meetings throughout the study. You can download meeting documents online. Learn More »

News Archives

News about the Solid Waste Management Authority project. Learn More »

Comments or Questions

If you have a question or comment about our project, you can print and complete the comment form [PDF*] and mail it to us; or you can send us your question or comment via email: SWMAComments@albanycounty.com.