Vision

Maintain a world-class waste management system
that benefits our community and environment.

Mission

Serve our community by providing a comprehensive solid waste management system
that is environmentally, socially and financially sound.

Through innovative strategies such as waste reduction, recycling, composting, disposal
and education, we make our community a more healthy and sustainable place to live.

Core Values

• Integrity & Honesty
• Environmental Stewardship
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Excellence in Services
  Customer Service
  Public Participation
  Community Relations

 

The Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, most commonly referred to by the acronym OCRRA, was created by the New York State Legislature to manage the solid waste, or large amounts of trash, we produce on a daily basis. The term "solid waste management" is synonymous with the safe disposal of garbage and the recycling of items that were once sent to a landfill.

The outcry for creation of a single group to oversee the development of a comprehensive solid waste management plan was the outgrowth of actions taken by the New York State Department of Conservation or NYSDEC in the 1970’s and 80’s.

One by one, town dumps were ordered closed down by the NYSDEC. These environmentally unfriendly dumping grounds were viewed as long term threats to the preservation of safe drinking water and clean air. Many became state superfund waste sites.

The community realized that if it did not take direct steps to deal with its trash problems, it would be unable to manage waste in a way that was best for the environment.

OCRRA, assumed responsibility for solid waste management on November 1, 1990. Thirty-three of the thirty-five municipalities in Onondaga County voluntarily elected to become part of the OCRRA system. OCRRA is a non-profit public benefit corporation similar to the New York State Thruway Authority. It is not an arm of county government. OCRRA is governed by a fifteen-member Board of Directors. The board is a group of citizen volunteers who devote countless hours to the development of programs and policies for the proper management of solid waste. The OCRRA Board is responsible for adopting a budget that ensures there will be sufficient revenues to cover expenditures. It does not rely on county taxes.

OCRRA’s approach to solid waste management embraces a broad spectrum of solutions:

Recycling and Waste Reduction

OCRRA offers an aggressive series of programs promoting waste reduction and the recycling of discards where markets exist to create new products. This global approach encompasses homeowners, apartment dwellers, businesses, industrial operations, and institutions. 

While a number of communities struggle to surpass the 20% recycling mark, Onondaga County's households and commercial outlets are currently recycling better than 60% of the waste that once was buried in landfills.

Waste-to-Energy

In 1992 OCRRA issued more than $178 million in bonds for the purpose of underwriting the construction costs of a state-of-the-art Waste-to-Energy Facility (WTE), including $15 million in environmental controls. The purpose of the WTE Facility was to convert non-recyclable waste into energy (electricity) and generate revenue. Construction was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Annual tests by an independent engineering firm have confirmed results from the continuous monitoring that occurs at the facility, annual emissions are significantly below what had been projected. In many instances they represent only a small percentage of the forecasts in original permitting studies.

In-County Landfill

OCRRA has secured the required permits for construction of an in-county landfill. The designated site is in the Town of Van Buren.

Currently, OCRRA transports the ash by-product from the WTE Facility and other non-burnable waste to the High Acres Landfill, near Rochester, NY. 

Construction of the in-county landfill will occur when environmental and economic factors dictate that it is in the best interest of Onondaga County businesses and residents.