Southold Town Warns Residents About Dangers Of Contaminated Recycled Congregate Aggregate

SOUTHOLD, NY — Southold Town has reached out to the public, warning them of the dangers of accepting recycled concrete aggregate, or RCA, for use on farm lands and private properties.

According to a release from Southold Town, several contractors have been offering local farms RCA, consisting of crushed roadways and building materials to be utilized instead of gravel for the reinforcement of agricultural paths and drives on farm lands. The danger comes from the source and safety of the RCA being offered, town officials said.

“While the Town of Southold has notified the proper state and governmental agencies of our concerns, people should not accept RCA because we do not know where it is coming from,” Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said.

Without independent verification as to the source, safety and content of the RCA, local farmers accepting RCA could be unknowingly exposing their farmland to dangerous chemicals and toxicity contained in the materials, town officials said.

"Farmers could be the unknowing recipients to these dangers from unscrupulous contractors trying to illegally dispose of these toxic materials," the release said.

The aim is to educate the community about the potential dangers.

"Local farms must be very cautious in accepting RCA and spreading it throughout their fields. Recipients of such RCA need to keep diligent logs of the suppliers, the trucking companies bringing it, and the source of the initial RCA. If there are concerns over RCA received, people are encouraged to contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation," the release said.

“Farming is the lifeblood of our community," Russell said. "The Town of Southold is dedicated to ensuring our farm fields are safe and our foods fresh for generations to come.”

In an email to Patch, he added, "I am uncertain which companies are involved in delivering the RCA. However, we have no knowledge of any local, town-based company being involved. We are working with the DEC and all matters regarding the investigation are in their hands."

And, Russell said, farm owners will be responsible for remediation and cleanup. "We have seen deliveries made to some farms and other properties and have contacted the owners looking for their cooperation. Any property owner, farms included, would be responsible for the remediation. To what extent the contractor is held accountable will be up to the DEC," he said.

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupsi said at an agricultural forum in January, the DEC warned about RCA.

"People are bringing it out by the truckloads and dumping it," Krupski said, adding that because the construction debris from New York City and points west is free, some may be tempted to use the RCA. "It seems like a great deal," he said.

But the potential impacts could include contamination, Krupski said.

"If it's clean, crushed concrete makes wonderful roadbed," Krupski said. "But if it's contaminated — and with construction debris, you don't know what's in it — there's a reason that it's free. You don't want to put contaminated materials on farm roads or property."

The RCA could be pitched for possible use at marinas, or to repair pot holes, as well as on farmland, Krupski said; he said he's cautioned individuals from using the RCA.

And despite the dangers, the potentially contaminated material is being trucked out to the North Fork. "Unfortunately, we've become a dumping ground out here," Krupski said.

The key, Krupski said, is knowing what's in the RCA. "You have to get it from someone you know," he said.

The DEC, he said, has embarked on testing at a number of farms on the East End.

"The DEC is working with farmers throughout the region to increase awareness of the potential sale of unapproved and/or unauthorized recycled concrete aggregate, or RCA," the NYS DEC said in a statement. "The DEC is distributing a fact sheet to inform farmers and others about the potential dangers of unapproved and/or unauthorized RCA and how to determine RCA materials are acceptable and appropriate. DEC has visited several farms on Long Island to determine if RCA received is in compliance with DEC’s State Solid Waste regulations. Related DEC investigations are ongoing."

On the fact sheet, the DEC offered tips on how to spot "unapproved" materials and avoid costly cleanup.

"Many Long Island farm operators use recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) to build farm roads. Sometimes RCA is blended with debris containing substances that can harm humans, animals and the environment. This material, which may include heavy metals and semi-volatile organic compounds, is not acceptable for use at farms and may cost farmers a significant amount to clean up," the fact sheet said.

Follow these steps to help avoid bringing contaminated RCA onto a farm:

1. Buy from a reliable processor. (see below)

Getting RCA through a NYS DEC-approved facility lowers the likelihood of improper materials in the final product. Construction and demolition debris processors authorized by NYS DEC are required to comply with applicable NYS DEC Part 360 regulations.

2. Ask for documentation of the source of the material.

3. Visually check received loads for unauthorized materials such as coal, coal ash, cinder, slag, ceramics, ground wood, fiberglass, plastics, metals, asbestos tiles, drywall, plaster, and other materials used in the construction / deconstruction of buildings. Look for unauthorized materials like these in RCA before accepting delivery.

Acceptable RCA Authorized C&D Processors with Sellable RCA Facilities located in Nassau and Suffolk counties, NYSDEC Region 1, according to the DEC's fact sheet

20 Arthur Avenue Assoc., Brookhaven 631-774-7280

Belli Contracting, Brentwood 631-273-3121

Bistrian Materials Inc., East Hampton 631-668-7950

Brinic Corp, Ronkonkoma 631-467-6900

Con-Strux LLC, Lindenhurst 631-669-3133

Con-Strux LLP, Westbury 516-333-3133

Cutchogue Mat. & Recycling, Cutchogue 631-734-8049

D’Agostino Bros., Kings Park 631-544-4066

DeChiaro Assoc. Corp., Yaphank 631-563-9232

East Coast Mines, East Quogue, 631-653-3337

Ed Barsic Jr.., West Babylon, 631-226-0757

Eversharp Recycling Inc., Glen Cove 516-656-5800

Framitz Inc/Rieco Properties, Oceanside 516-766-6696

Hampton Sand Mining Corp., Speonk 631-325-5533

Horton Avenue Materials, Riverhead 631-727-6325

Hubbard Sand & Gravel, Bayshore 631-665-1005

IROC Industries, Oceanside 516-432-4281

Izzo Brothers, Kings Park 631-543-8039

Jetson Group LLC, Ronkonkoma 631-580-3638

Kenneth P Edwards, Bayshore 631-666-2578

Kurrass Materials Inc., East Patchogue 631-286-0080

LASER Properties West, Old Bethpage 631-924-0644

Liotta Brothers Recycling, Oceanside 516-855-0232

Long Island Recycling Corp., Deer Park 631-514-1147

Nassau Ready Mix Corp, .Glen Cove 516-671-1842

Nassau Ready Mix, Inwood 516-371-1842

Pond Materials Corp., Ronkonkoma 516-922-3940

Posillico Materials, Farmingdale 631-390-5762

Rason Asphalt, Glen Cove 516-671-1500

Recycled Earth Products Inc., Kings Park 631-368-4000

RJ Murray Enterprises, Kings Park 631-544-4400

Roanoke Sand & Gravel, Middle Island 631-924-4100

Seville Central Mix, Bethpage 516-293-6190

Sky Materials Corp., Calverton 631-208-2999

Skyline LLC, East Setauket 631-403-4131

South Island Industries, Inwood 516-371-1842

South Shore Materials, Bayshore 631-243-4905

Speonk Earth Recycling LLC, Speonk 631-325-5566

Stonco Materials, Medford 631-698-7645

Stony Creek Industries, Oceanside 516-678-54

Troffa Mason Supply Inc., East Setauket 631-928-4665

Truckin Construction, Glenwood Landing 516-674-3943

Twin County Recycling Corp., Hicksville 516-827-6900

Wainscott Sand & Gravel, Noyac 631-537-4583

Watbro Recycling Inc., Bayshore 631-586-8300

Photo of acceptable RCA by DEC.