Ulster County Legislature Defeats Resolution Opposing Proposed Wawarsing Landfill After Months of Public Comment

Ulster County Legislature members defeated Resolution 33 on June 17, 2025, a proposal that would have formally opposed establishment of a county landfill in the town of Wawarsing; the measure failed on a roll-call vote, 8 in favor and 13 opposed.

The measure attracted an extended public comment period and floor debate. Supporters of the resolution told legislators the Wawarsing sites under review—commonly referenced in the hearing as “Milk Road” and “Brown Road”—are unsuitable because of nearby water supplies, farms, summer camps and a history of placing waste facilities in marginalized communities. Opponents of the resolution said the county should defer to the Resource Recovery Agency’s scientific siting process and avoid legislating specific siting decisions.

Why it matters: The issue has drawn repeated public testimony across several months and multiple town and civic resolutions. Residents asked the legislature for a clear, local statement opposing the proposed Wawarsing sites to reassure communities while the county and the agency consider broader waste-diversion strategies. The Resource Recovery Agency (referred to in testimony as the RA or RRA) announced it was taking the two Wawarsing sites off active pursuit, but speakers and multiple legislators said a county resolution…