
<p>Off the Old Seneca Turnpike where the old Skaneateles garbage incinerator used to burn garbage, Skaneateleans now sort through it together. Skaneateleans bring their dogs, families and, of course, trash. The Transfer Station workers are local celebrities, Joe Pickering, John Scriven and David Tanner working the station know everyone well enough to greet them with a smile and a quick quip.</p>


Michelle McLoughlin

Mike Roy

David Tanner, left, talks with a local resident inside the garbage building at the Transfer Station in Skaneateales, NY. Formerly a garbage incinerator, it became a transfer station in 1981 and on peak days serves up to 600 residents. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

David Tanner, left, talks with a local resident inside the garbage building at the Transfer Station in Skaneateales, NY. Formerly a garbage incinerator, it became a transfer station in 1981 and on peak days serves up to 600 residents. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

"You get friendly with the people here. They bring their dogs and we have dog biscuts. The dogs get excited because they know they're getting treats"-John Scriven. David Tanner feeds a dog at the Skaneateles transfer station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

&#8220;You get friendly with the people here. They bring their dogs and we have dog biscuts. The dogs get excited because they know they&#8217;re getting treats&#8221;-John Scriven. David Tanner feeds a dog at the Skaneateles transfer station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

A Skaneatealan loads wood into her truck after picking it up from the Transfer Station "Swap Shop" event in Skaneateles, NY. Formerly a garbage incinerator, it became a transfer station in 1981 and on peak days serves up to 600 residents. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

A Skaneatealan loads wood into her truck after picking it up from the Transfer Station &#8220;Swap Shop&#8221; event in Skaneateles, NY. Formerly a garbage incinerator, it became a transfer station in 1981 and on peak days serves up to 600 residents. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

Plastic containers lay in the plastic container pile at the Recycling Building on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

 Plastic containers lay in the plastic container pile at the Recycling Building on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

Joe Pickering pushes overflowing trash into the compactor in the Garbage building at the Skaneateles Transfer Station Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

 Joe Pickering pushes overflowing trash into the compactor in the Garbage building at the Skaneateles Transfer Station Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

An aluminum can lays in the glass pile at the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

 An aluminum can lays in the glass pile at the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

"We do this so the dump doesn't overflow, but it's a nice way to spend your Saturdays with the community," said Merrily Hever. Skaneateleans sort through the books thrown away at the Skaneateles Transfer Station "Swap Shop" event Oct. 25, 2025. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

&#8220;We do this so the dump doesn&#8217;t overflow, but it&#8217;s a nice way to spend your Saturdays with the community,&#8221; said Merrily Hever. Skaneateleans sort through the books thrown away at the Skaneateles Transfer Station &#8220;Swap Shop&#8221; event Oct. 25, 2025. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

"We will take everything outside of hazardous waste," said Joe Pickering, a Transfer Station worker. Joe Pickering operates a wheel loader on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 25, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

 &#8220;We will take everything outside of hazardous waste,&#8221; said Joe Pickering, a Transfer Station worker. Joe Pickering operates a wheel loader on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 25, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

"You get friendly with the people here. They bring their dogs and we have dog biscuts. The dogs get excited because they know they're getting treats," John Scriven said. Scriven waves hello to a car arriving at the Skaneateles transfer station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O'Grady.

 &#8220;You get friendly with the people here. They bring their dogs and we have dog biscuts. The dogs get excited because they know they&#8217;re getting treats,&#8221; John Scriven said. Scriven waves hello to a car arriving at the Skaneateles transfer station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady.

 Two local residents talk about where the different kind of trash goes inside the Recycling Building at the Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 25, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

A Skaneatealan loads wood into her truck after picking it up from the Transfer Station &#8220;Swap Shop&#8221; event in Skaneateles, NY. Formerly a garbage incinerator, it became a transfer station in 1981 and on peak days serves up to 600 residents. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

 &#8220;You get friendly with the people here. They bring their dogs and we have dog biscuts. The dogs get excited because they know they&#8217;re getting treats&#8221;-John Scriven. David Tanner feeds a dog at the Skaneateles transfer station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady).

Plastic containers lay in the plastic container pile at the Recycling Building on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

Joe Pickering pushes overflowing trash into the compactor in the Garbage building at the Skaneateles Transfer Station Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

An aluminum can lays in the glass pile at the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 24, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

&#8220;We will take everything outside of hazardous waste,&#8221; said Joe Pickering, a Transfer Station worker. Joe Pickering operates a wheel loader on the Skaneateles Transfer Station in Skaneateles, New York Oct. 25, 2025. The Skaneateles Transfer Station collects and organizes the trash for all Skaneateleans. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

&#8220;We do this so the dump doesn&#8217;t overflow, but it&#8217;s a nice way to spend your Saturdays with the community,&#8221; said Merrily Hever. Skaneateleans sort through the books thrown away at the Skaneateles Transfer Station &#8220;Swap Shop&#8221; event Oct. 25, 2025. (Photo by Christopher M. O&#8217;Grady)

The Alexia Fall Workshop

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TRASH TO TREASURE

Produced by

Christopher O'Grady

Coached by

Michelle McLoughlin

Mike Roy