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 would provide additional assurance to residents.

Public comment and key concerns
Residents and local groups dominated the public comment period. Scott Carlson, a Wawarsing resident, said community opposition has been sustained and well organized: “We really need you tonight to do the right thing and say no as well,” he said, urging the legislature to back a formal prohibition on the two sites. Multiple speakers referenced water contamination risks for private wells and farms, proximity to summer camps and the potential for environmental injustice.

Reuben Bouchard read a letter from the Ellenville branch of the NAACP opposing the landfill, saying in part that placing a landfill in an economically disadvantaged area “places an even greater burden on its residents” and calling environmental and climate justice a civil-rights issue. Poppy Cannon Reese, who said she is taking volunteer training at the agency that handles the siting process, urged the legislature to pass the resolution and to pair any opposition with stronger community education and expanded waste-diversion efforts.

Several speakers pointed to specific local impacts: one commenter said there are about 17 summer camps that will house roughly 8,500 children near the Milk Road site and described groups of children walking near the proposed area; others described the importance of nearby farms, private wells and indigenous cultural sites.

Legislative debate and vote
Deputy Minority Leader Lopez, who represents the district that includes the two sites, framed the resolution as a response to months of constituent testimony and urged colleagues to support it now that the Resource Recovery Agency had publicly suspended active pursuit of those sites. Several other legislators thanked residents for their advocacy and urged additional countywide work on waste reduction and green jobs.

Opponents of the resolution, including members who said they feared setting a political precedent, argued the siting process should remain within the Resource Recovery Agency and its technical reviews. Those members said the RA has contracted with consultants and that the legislature should allow the agency’s scientific work to proceed without a local political pronouncement. On final roll call the measure failed by a vote of 8 in favor and 13 opposed.

Action details
The legislature considered Resolution 33, described on the floor as “opposing the establishment of a county landfill in Wawarsing, New York, and urging the exploration of alternative locations and waste-management solutions.” The resolution was brought to the floor after a petition to discharge the matter from committee. Final recorded outcome: defeated, vote tally 8–13 (yes 8, no 13). The measure was not amended on the floor.

Context and next steps
Speakers and several legislators emphasized that the defeat of this resolution does not end discussion about solid-waste policy in Ulster County. Multiple lawmakers and members of the public urged accelerated work on waste diversion, composting and creation of green-economy jobs. Several legislators pledged to partner with the Resource Recovery Agency and with residents to pursue alternatives to landfilling within a broader county plan.

Speakers mentioned in the hearing included residents, community organizers and officials from civic organizations; the Ellenville NAACP submitted a written letter that was read into the record. The Resource Recovery Agency’s public statements and any future RA recommendations remain the operative technical guidance for siting decisions.

Ending note
The public comment period and floor debate reflected months of community organizing around the proposed sites. While Resolution 33 failed on the floor, the legislature and the Resource Recovery Agency face ongoing public pressure to develop a countywide waste strategy that addresses diversion, equity and long-term capacity.