Most Yates County trash is currently hauled out of the county for disposal, and Ontario County has committed to closing its landfill by December 31, 2028. If Yates County and local municipalities don't publish a concrete post-2028 plan (with costs and backups), residents should expect higher hauling and disposal costs to show up in monthly bills.
Yates County's Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) states that the majority of waste generated in the County is disposed at the Ontario County Landfill, outside of Yates County, via third-party haulers.
The same LSWMP notes there are no permitted active sanitary landfills in Yates County (meaning disposal depends on facilities in other counties).
Ontario County's published materials state the landfill is expected to close when the current operating/management lease expires at the end of 2028.
Yates County's LSWMP warns that future landfill use depends on the various waste haulers and that landfill options can change based on permits and capacity.
Why this matters: When disposal routes get longer and tipping fees change, those costs typically flow through to residents and small businesses.
Homes &
Businesses
Private
Haulers
Transfer/
Drop Sites
Disposal Landfill
(Ontario County)
Yates County describes a system where private haulers/contractors play a major role in collection and routing, with transfer stations used for local convenience.
Yates County residents have free recycling drop-off at:
Cardinal Disposal publishes drop-site locations, hours, and bag pricing, including:
Always confirm hours and rules directly with the operator before you go.
If trash must be hauled farther or to higher-cost disposal sites, the LSWMP indicates impacts will largely show up as increased hauling fees.
(Minimum Deliverables)
Primary destination(s), backup destination(s), trigger conditions, and assumptions.
Tipping fees + haul distance + transfer costs → translated to $/household/month.
Current tonnage, constraints, upgrade needs, permitting path, and mitigation.
Written confirmation (letters, license filings, or documented statements) about intended disposal destinations post-2028.
Recycling/organics actions that reduce disposal tonnage (the cheapest ton is the ton you don't haul).
(Copy/Paste Ready)
"Which landfill(s) will our trash go to starting January 1, 2029—name them—and what are the cost assumptions?"
"What is the modeled rate increase per household under best/expected/worst hauling scenarios?"
"What transfer site capacity limits exist today, and what upgrades are required if tonnage rises?"
"Where is the written contingency plan and who is responsible for implementation?"
"What diversion actions will reduce disposal tonnage before 2028, and what are the milestones?"
Tip: Copy these questions to your notes app before attending meetings
Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6), please provide copies of all records from January 1, 2024 to present relating to post-2028 municipal solid waste disposal planning for Yates County/Penn Yan, including but not limited to: contingency plans, cost/rate models, communications with Ontario County and/or waste haulers, transfer station capacity analyses, tonnage/throughput summaries, and all meeting agendas/minutes/attachments where these topics were discussed.
Please include emails and attachments. If portions are exempt, please produce the remainder and cite the specific statutory basis for redactions or withholding.
Primary planning document
Shows prior status/expiration notes
Official closure timeline documents
Public posting
We'll post updates here as new public records are released:
No updates yet. Check back regularly as new information becomes available.
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