TOWN OF TONAWANDA — While the town board reviews a proposal for a new recycling facility, a local environmental organization is calling on town leaders to carefully weigh the potential environmental impact before allowing the project to proceed.

The board conducted a hearing last week for Triad Recycling and Energy Corp. to do business at 3755 River Road, a stretch that includes a variety of industrial facilities whose output of toxins is monitored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Board members chose to leave the hearing open pending additional information from the DEC relating to environmental issues.

Clean Air Coalition of WNY Executive Director Erin Heaney submitted a statement to be included as part of the comments on the recycling center’s operations. “We believe that our community’s health is directly linked to the environment we live in,” Heaney wrote, noting that “Tonawanda has the highest concentration of air regulated facilities in New York state,” and that such operations release 1.2 million pounds of toxins.

“Our community bears the brunt of these releases,” her statement continues.

The coalition is asking the town board to thoroughly review all aspects of Triad’s proposal, including the process for recycling construction materials, which company officials said last week would be the focus of their operation.

“While recycling does help reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills, the process of recycling is often not green or good for the residents who live close to it,” Heaney wrote.

The coalition wants town leaders to make sure they review all of the environmental documents Triad must file for the project to move forward. “We urge the town council to have proper information regarding public health before making any decisions about the future of the project,” Heaney’s statement reads.

During last week’s hearing, Triad developers said they plan to spend about $1 million to redevelop three old buildings on the parcel at 3755 River Road, a property they chose for its proximity to Buffalo. Among the materials that would be hauled in each day by dump truck are concrete, dry wood and shingles.

“While we’re excited about the opportunity for job growth, we just want to ensure that it is a safe facility, and we don’t want it to cause a negative impact on our health,” City of Tonawanda resident and coalition member Lindsay Amico said during Monday’s town board meeting.

The town board is waiting to receive information from the DEC on the permit approval process before making a decision on whether to approve or reject the project. Developers said they have until Oct. 21 to make a decision on whether to purchase the River Road property.

Councilwoman Lisa Chimera assured the public that the town board will review all environmental documents before reaching a determination. “The reason the hearing was left open was we were waiting for answers from the DEC,” she said.

“We always look at environmental decisions. We’re required by law to go through the (state environmental quality review) process,” Chimera said, referring to the statute designed to ensure that agencies research the environmental impact of a development before allowing it to proceed.

A copy of the Clean Air Coalition’s statement was forwarded to Triad developers. The town board is expected to rule on the proposal by its Oct. 18 meeting.