New York state is suing 29 companies for allegedly dumping waste from downstate at a site in Saugerties authorized to accept waste only from Ulster and Dutchess counties.
The companies violated state law by dumping more than 3,000 truckloads of construction and demolition waste from New York City and Long Island at a dump owned and operated by Joseph Karolys in Saugerties, state Attorney General Letitia James and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said Thursday.
James said the suit seeks repayment of revenues and profits gained from the activity, as well as fines.
“Rather than bring their solid waste to local facilities that were authorized to accept it, Joseph Karolys and dozens of hauling accomplices chose instead to treat the waste illegally, dump it in violation of our stringent environmental laws, and then not address the consequences,” Seggos said in a statement.
The state filed suit against Karolys in June 2020 for repeatedly accepting waste from the 29 haulers and brokers named in Thursday’s suit, and launched an investigation. It revealed that over three years, the companies brought the 3,000 loads from multiple construction sites in New York City and Long Island to Saugerties site, James and Seggos said.
The 29 companies named in the suit, along with their owners and/or operators, are named here.