Speaker Heastie, Assemblymember Barrett Announce Vital Funding for New Lebanon

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Didi Barrett this week announced $1 million in funding in the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25 Budget to allow the Town of New Lebanon to close their landfill for a total of $2 million for the project.

“It’s great to be in New Lebanon with Assemblymember Barrett to announce such an important project,” Speaker Heastie said. “Closing this landfill will allow the town to comply with state law without placing the burden on the town residents, benefiting residents as well as the local environment. We know that towns can’t always do it on their own, and we will continue fighting to help get municipalities the resources they need.”

“The Town of New Lebanon has been waiting to close this landfill since 2009, and thanks to this funding will finally be able to,” Assemblymember Barrett said. “It’s been a long time coming and is a relief to the town and residents that it will finally be completed. I’d like to thank Speaker Heastie for fighting for this funding, and look forward to continue working with him to secure vital funding for projects like this one.”

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Barrett were joined by State Senator Michelle Hinchey, New Lebanon Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling and Town Board Member Steve Powers to announce this year’s enacted budget included $1 million to cap the Town of New Lebanon’s landfill which will bring the project to a total of $2 million. In 2009 the Department of Environmental Conservations mandated the closure of the town’s landfill, and has been on the waiting list for the Non-Hazardous Municipal Landfill Closure Projects since 2011. In the time since, it has been discovered that per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in the landfill, which is uphill from a school, town hall and hamlet. Studies have shown that PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.