Don't export more trash here!

New York City's recent announcement that it will be closing its Fresh Kills Landfill by 2001 and will need new disposal sites for the 4.7 million tons of trash generated annually raised red flags for concerned politicians in Pennsylvania. In 1995, New York State exported 2.7 million tons (15 percent of its total waste) to Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania sent a letter to New York Governor George Pataki objecting to New York's reported intention to seek to export more trash to states such as Pennsylvania when Fresh Kills closes. Ridge also objected to New York's termination of negotiations with Pennsylvania and other states to reach a legislative agreement on restricting interstate waste. He went to Washington in mid-June to seek Congressional action on legislation that would allow states to restrict the amount of trash that is exported from other states. Congressional action is necessary because federal courts have ruled that trash is considered interstate commerce and, as such, is subject to federal, rather than state, regulation.

Congressman Jim Greenwood of Pennsylvania addressed the prospects for passage of such legislation in a talk he gave to the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee in Harrisburg. He was not very optimistic, citing a promise by Congressman Gerald Solomon of New York to use his position as chairman of the House Rules Committee to hold up legislation that could hurt his state. "New York has no interest in resolving this issue," said Greenwood. "Its issues are resolved by the status quo. We've had a stone wall to deal with in the New York delegation." Greenwood recommended that the committee meet with its counterparts in New York to discuss incentives for getting communities to host disposal facilities. "We are following up on his suggestion and plan to talk about ways that New York can enhance its disposal capacity," says Richard Fox of the Joint Committee. "There is no reason why New York can't handle its own municipal solid waste."