N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 27-0106: State solid waste management policy

§ 27-0106. State solid waste management policy.

In the interest of public health, safety and welfare and in order to

conserve energy and natural resources, the state of New York, in

enacting this section, establishes as its policy that:

1. The following are the solid waste management priorities in this

state:

(a) first, to reduce the amount of solid waste generated;

(b) second, to reuse material for the purpose for which it was

originally intended or to recycle material that cannot be reused;

(c) third, to recover, in an environmentally acceptable manner, energy

from solid waste that can not be economically and technically reused or

recycled; and

(d) fourth, to dispose of solid waste that is not being reused,

recycled or from which energy is not being recovered, by land burial or

other methods approved by the department.

2. State government must make an essential contribution to the

development and implementation of environmentally, economically and

technically viable solid waste management programs through fulfilling

its responsibilities to provide programs which promote waste reduction

and the expansion of markets for recovered materials, clearly

articulated, responsive and consistently applied regulatory structures,

and a full range of technical assistance to local governments. A

state-local partnership, in which the basic responsibility for the

planning and operation of solid waste management facilities remains with

local governments and the state provides necessary guidance and

assistance, must be forged.

3. This policy, after consideration of economic and technical

feasibility, shall guide the solid waste management programs and

decisions of the department and other state agencies and authorities.