In the late 1980's, New York State was facing a garbage crisis. Waste generation was increasing and landfill space was decreasing. Something had to be done. State officials encouraged a comprehensive approach to collection and disposal of garbage and set up a hierarchy of preferred methods of waste management. Waste reduction, then reuse, followed by recycling, was favored over incineration and landfilling of waste. The state required local governments to design and implement Local Solid Waste Management Plans. The plans were to spell out how waste would be handled in the future, using the State hierarchy as a guide. The State also encouraged county governments to work cooperatively on the plans and on waste issues. And so the GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee came into being. This past October, GLOW passed the 23 year mark.
In 1990, GLOW completed its plan and approval by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation followed. Since that time, GLOW not only set out to implement the plan, but also to address other waste disposal issues. In its 19 years, GLOW has become the primary source for residents, businesses, institutions and government agencies that have disposal questions. GLOW is accessible to the public through county fairs, home shows and community events, and on-line at www.glowsolidwaste.org. Three Backyard Composting Education Demonstration Sites provide residents with information on reducing waste through composting, while MAT-EX: Western/Central New York Materials Exchange provides the region with a way for unwanted materials to be reused. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program and farm pesticide collections have offered safe and legal disposal of unwanted, unneeded, or banned chemicals and materials. For a complete list of programs, visit our website at www.glowsolidwaste.org.
GLOW's longevity is a testament to government at its best. County legislators, planners and officials saw the benefits of working together and have guided the organization through the ups and downs of markets, the consolidation of the waste industry, and each new disposal issue that arises. The close working relationship of the three counties is unprecedented in the State and has made GLOW an example to follow.