PERINTON, N.Y. — The High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center sits on 1,000 acres in the town of Perinton and began operating in the early 1970's.

Although some neighbors living near the landfill say it's an eyesore, latel, it's been more about an odor.

Town leaders began taking complaints about a persistent odor in the fall.

"Sometimes it's a very chemical-type noxious gas, other times it's a garbage smell," said nearby resident John Reisinger. "And again, we're fairly lucky. I don't know if it's the wind currents or something, we get it maybe two three times a month, but I know that there's some houses to the north here and the winds seem to just take it and drop it right on them." 

The town says its working closely with the operators of the landfill. Waste Management of New York has agreed to fix the problem, but the company says it first has to determine the source of the problem.

"Waste management knows there's an issue," said Perinton Town Supervisor Michael Barker. "They have promised us that they will fix it and they have people coming from all over the country to look at it, work at it and get it fixed."

Barker says the New York State DEC has someone on site to monitor the landfill daily, and this is not a health issue, but rather a quality of life issue. 

One that has residents coming together to protect Perinton and its fresh air. They've formed an online group called Fresh Air for the Eastside to keep everyone updated on the issue.

"I'm just looking at the day where they retire it, cap it and put it to rest," Reisinger said.

There has been no clear date given as far as a resolution to the problem, but town leaders say the conservation board will be gathering more facts at a meeting in the new year. 

"We are watching and monitoring and if it doesn't get fixed, we'll deal with it," Barker said.