Residents Question Propose Medford Rail Waste Transfer Proposal

MEDFORD, NY — With the Brookhaven landfill in Yaphank scheduled for closure in 2024, the town of Brookhaven is considering a proposal for a waste transfer station that will cart Long Island's garbage off by rail. The proposal, from Gershow Recycling, would process 2,000 tons of waste per day on six-acre Peconic Ave. site.

On Thursday, the town held a virtual public meeting where local residents and community groups raised several concerns over the plan. Neighbors asked about noise and dust issues, as well as possible groundwater contamination and even radioactive material being dumped.

A group called Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group (BLARG) addressed larger concerns about Long Island's waste plans and advocated for progressive The group has previously mobilized to voice concerns about the landfill's effects on local communities and a proposed ashfill at the landfill site.

The plans for the site were posted by Kerim Capulcu on a page called Suffolk County Environmental Justice Report online after a FOIL request to the town.

The waste would be sent to two landfills in Ohio, where local residents have raised concerns about the environmental impact in their communities. In response, a representative for the developer said he would be open to looking into the final destination of the waste.

Two other rail waste transfer projects have been proposed on Long Island—A Winters Bros. station in Yaphank and one from Omni Recycling in Brentwood. The trains would leave at midnight from the site.

Michelle Mendez of Mastic is a member of BLARG who brought up what she called "the conflict of interest that seems to be occurring right now." Mendez claimed that the owner of Gershow Recycling, Sam Gershowitz, has been a significant donor to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine.

"It's about time we solved the problem. And it can't be one community to solve it," Don Seubert of Medford, remarked, referencing the community's longstanding use as a garbage processing area.

"We've got a solid waste crisis on Long Island," Shoshana Hershkowitz said. She lives in South Setauket and is the founder of Suffolk Progressives.

"My concern is we need a series of public hearings. Otherwise this just becomes a transaction between business and the town board without the robust public input that it deserves because it will impact our lives down the line."

The town left the public comment period open for ten days for residents to submit any further written statements.