A sign advocating for the closure of the Dunn C&D Landfill in Rensselaer, April 11, 2025.

Residents in Rensselaer said loudly and clearly that they didn't want the S.A. Dunn landfill to continue operating in the city, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation didn't listen. In December, the state agency gave the dump a new operating permit.

That was more than disappointing. It was, frankly, a shameful decision, showing once again that despite paying lip service to the importance of community concerns, the DEC doesn't really care.

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And the fact that the permit renewal was announced two days before Christmas, when most residents weren't paying attention, suggests officials at the DEC knew the decision was going to prompt outrage. To this day, the DEC hasn't bothered to explain or defend its decision to Rensselaer residents.

But the battle........

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