Cuomo signs legislation to prevent large-scale illegal waste dumping

Legislation designates a scheme to defraud by disposal of solid waste; imposes stiffer penalties on offenders

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed legislation (S6758-B/A10803a) to strengthen penalties against the illegal disposal of construction debris, demolition debris, and other hazardous substances. The legislation also designates fraudulent schemes involving the disposal of solid waste as a new crime. His camp said these strengthened penalties will provide strong new tools for law enforcement to use as they work to stop unlawful waste dumping activities.

"Illegal dumping is a significant problem and too often its costs are unjustly passed on to the community," Cuomo said. "Not only does this legislation strengthen criminal penalties to ensure sanctions do not simply become another cost of doing business, but it further discourages large-scale illegal dumping by holding developers and waste haulers accountable for creating the problem in the first place."

With this signing, a number of technical changes to legislative language have been agreed to following negotiations with the legislature. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.