Director of the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District
Mr. Richard P. Pope has been the Director of the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District since 1993. Mr. Pope is in charge of the operation and management of 120 acres of municipal solid and hazardous waste landfills owned by Niagara County. Additionally, Director Pope operates the Niagara County Landfill and Recycling Center touting a waste recycling and reuse rate of approximately 5000 tons/year since 1998. Pope has managed household hazardous waste collection operations for Niagara County since 2004.
He has designed, permitted, and managed the construction of many municipal and private landfill liners, and closures, as well as the present landfill owned and operated by Niagara County. Mr. Pope conducts preliminary phase one environmental assessments for the County prior to property acquisition. His expertise is utilized on regional, inter-municipal, and inter-departmental special projects, which require management of environmental engineering and public works issues.
Mr. Pope received a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership, specializing in public administration and business, from Medaille College in 2006. He is also a 1987 Graduate of the University of Buffalo with Bachelors in Environmental Science and Soils Geography. He has worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Regulatory Affairs, and the Niagara County Department of Public Works, as well as several private firms specializing in municipal engineering, and solid and hazardous waste management.
Mr. Pope possesses New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Landfill Operators Certification, and 29 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Waste and Hazmat Rescue /Confined Space Certification and 6NYCRR part 373 Hazardous Waste Certification for operating Hazardous Waste Facilities.
Director Pope received NYSDEC funds totaling over 1.5 million dollars from New York State Senator George D. Maziarz, 61st District. These NYSDEC funds were allocated for old landfill closures, freeing up existing landfill revenues to begin the District's new Residential Recycling Center.
