High Acres Landfill & Recycling Center Construction & Operational Update

3rd Quarter 2023

Site Information

The High Acres Landfill began in 1971 and joined WM in 1972. The facility provides environmentally responsible solid waste management to the region. Located on approximately 1,500 acres, the facility offers many amenities. The permitted landfill consists of around 320 acres.

The team at High Acres Landfill provides this Construction & Operational Update summarizing the key enhancements that have occurred on-site through the first quarter of 2023. Going forward, WM will provide similar updates on a quarterly basis to the community. Key aspects of the updates will include community benefits, site construction activities, environmental performance and compliance and site monitoring activities.

Landfill Facts

Total Property: 1,500+ acres
Design Capacity: 3,500 tons per day
Closed Landfill: 72 acres
Western Expansion: 68.1 acres
Parkway Expansion Phase I: 20.1 acres
Parkway Expansion Phase II: 58 acres
Parkway Expansion Phase III: ~150 acres
Site Life: 2051

Community Benefits

High Acres Open House

A Moving-Towards-Zero-Waste Event

This past August, we hosted an informational and educational open house for our friends and neighbors. Highlights of the event were a landfill tour by bus, kid-friendly games, WM trucks and equipment on display, food, and prizes.

The event provided insight into how High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center operates from construction and design to renewable energy production, and organics composting.

At the information booths, attendees chatted with all the entities that work in conjunction with the landfill including engineers, contractors, consultants, regulators, vendors, and elected officials. This event was free and open to the public.

Fairport Music Festival

High Acres is a proud supporter and sponsor

At Fairport Music Festival, thousands of attendees gather over the course of 2 days to enjoy a variety of food, and drinks along with live music and other entertainment from dozens of local bands. All proceeds benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital.

High Acres provides the garbage services for the event free of charge. WM is Always Working For A Sustainable Tomorrow and is happy to help serve our local communities.

High Acres Sports Complex

In partnership with Upstate NY Sports, we have created a state-of-the-art sports complex that is free for the public and houses more than 5,000 kids on football, baseball and lacrosse teams.

Site Construction Activities

Landfill construction and operation at High Acres are governed by the facility’s New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) 6NYCRR Part 360 Permit, dated July 9, 2013. The NYSDEC approved landfill footprint in both Perinton and Macedon is 320.4 acres, which 234.1 acres have been constructed with 86.3 remaining to be constructed. The facility’s estimated remaining permitted site life has been calculated through approximately 2051.

Photos and brief descriptions are provided below of Q3 2023 construction activities. Temporary odors may occur during trenching and construction activities that are necessary for project completion and future improvements. Currently bidding cell 15A for 2024 construction.

The EPA visited in August and performed a partial SEM scan and inspection focused on cover integrity and fugitive greenhouse gas emissions.

Temporary HDPE Cap

A temporary exposed HDPE cap is used for additional odor control and gas collection and is strategically placed throughout the landfill. An additional +/- 10 acres of temporary exposed HDPE cap was deployed over cell mid-11 area at the end of September.

New Flare Installation

The North Candlestick Flare was relocated in August and is currently undergoing electrical installation.

Summary

WM employs state-of-the-art odor control measures for the industry at the landfill, including more recent measures implemented and described in this update. We remain vigilant in our evaluation and implementation of best management practices and technology to enhance operations. WM continues its commitment to the Department and the community by continuing to conduct continuous ambient monitoring for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at the South and North Monitoring Station and the Dudley/Northside School. The gas collection/control systems also continue to operate at high levels of efficiency this quarter. The data supports that landfill gas is being collected and not migrating off-site and that there is no indication that emissions pose any health concerns. The site’s gas collection and control system, operating records, odor control programs, off-site H2S monitoring data, enhanced quarterly surface scans, DEC notification hotline and follow-up data from a trained odor detection investigator, and DEC inspection reports, all indicate the landfill is operating in a manner that minimizes off-site odors to the greatest extent practicable.