Waste Disposal Areas
Disclaimer: This page is intended to provide general information regarding Agency jurisdiction. Other provisions or restrictions may apply if an Agency permit or variance is required or if the property has previously been subject to Agency review.
This is a supplement to the Citizen's Guide, which provides basic information about Adirondack Park Agency regulations. Please contact the Agency with any questions. For a binding written response as to whether a specific proposal requires Agency review, please submit a Jurisdictional Inquiry Form online or by mail.
Updated: March 17, 2017
Under the Adirondack Park Agency Act, a permit is required for the establishment of any waste disposal area in all land use areas except Hamlet. The term “waste disposal area”, is defined broadly, as “any area for the disposal of garbage, refuse and other wastes, including sanitary landfills and dumps, other than an on-site disposal area directly associated with an industrial use.”
Under Agency regulations and practice, the following activities are not considered to establish waste disposal areas, and waste disposal area permits are not required for their undertaking. However, an Agency permit may be required for other reasons, for example when the activity will involve wetlands or another critical environmental area. In addition, Agency review may be required because of an associated subdivision or development activity.
- The placement of uncontaminated soil on a property.
- The placement of uncontaminated asphalt or concrete that will be used for maintenance of an existing road, driveway, or parking area.
- The placement or use of materials for which the Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a pre-approved or specific Beneficial Use Determination.
- The establishment of an area less than 25 cubic yards in size for the disposal of trees, stumps, yard waste, soil, rock, concrete, brick, untreated wood, wood ash, animal manure, or organic kitchen and vegetable wastes that has been generated on site by residential activities, provided the waste is not commingled with or contaminated by other solid wastes, hazardous wastes, petroleum products, or other household garbage.
- The placement of soil and land clearing debris generated onsite from lawful construction activities.
- The disposal of excess sediment and organic materials resulting from the cleaning of highway ditches, culverts, catch basins, and shoulders, provided the material is not contaminated with paint, fuels, solvents, or other petroleum products.
- The disposal of surplus excavated soil materials taken from trenches dug for public utility projects, provided the material is not contaminated with paint, fuels, solvents, or other petroleum products.
- The disposal of tree trunks, branches, woodchips, or stump grindings resulting from the removal of trees or branches from within a highway right-of-way.