History of the Authority

The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority was created by the Rockland County Legislature in September of 1994. Prior to its inception the Solid Waste Management Committee existed as a sub-committee of the County Legislature. The task before the committee was what seemed to many for years, to be insurmountable. The committee was charged by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a Solid Waste Management Plan that would help to resolve the County's past, present and future solid waste issues.

The Authority initially consisted of 15 members: 13 elected officials consisting of the five town supervisors (ex officio), eight legislative representatives (5 majority & 3 minority members), and two representatives of the County Executive. In April 1999, the Authority board was expanded to 17 members to allow for mayoral representation. The members are not compensated for their time in any way.

With the pending closure of all three of Rockland's municipal landfills, the Authority began working to implement the Plan, which was approved by the DEC in 1994. The Authority concentrated on reducing the amount of material that would be landfilled. The Plan included the construction and/or development of a Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW), a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), a Sludge Cocomposting Facility (COCO), a C & D Bulky Waste Facility, and a Yardwaste Composting Facility. All of the facilities are now in operation.

The Authority purchased the Scalehouse and Transfer Station in August 1998 from the Town of Ramapo. The renovation of the Transfer Station included a Recyclables Pre-Processing Facility that was completed in 2001. C & D is incorporated in pre-processing facilities. All facilities are now functioning.