Conducting waste characterization studies is never a simple task, but doing it in the middle of a New York winter adds a new layer of complexity. On Tuesday (12/2/25), 7 News joined the WDAC team (Yiyi Wang, Hailey Lee, Ali Mayeli, and Alfred Manu) and John Phelps, the recycling coordinator at the Development of Authority of North Country (DANC), in the field to cover WDAC’s first-ever winter waste characterization study at the DANC facility in the Town of Rodman, NY.
To date, winter sampling efforts have been underrepresented and primarily limited to the Long Island area. By expanding the study’s scope to the upstate regions during the winter months, WDAC team is gathering critical data that provides a more accurate, year-round picture of waste management needs. This ensures that the collected waste characterization data reflect the variety of all seasons.
Watch the full story here.