County Executive Andy Spano advocates that Westchester residents can and should do more to set their recycling sights higher.  The county has met or exceeded the state’s recycling goal of 40% for solid waste for nine consecutive years and has increased recycling of organic yard waste, used tires and household hazardous waste.  However, Spano wants to step up enforcement of the county’s mandatory recycling law.  So Westchester County has embarked on a re-education effort to get residents,businesses and others to sort more recyclables from their trash and to remind them that recycling is not an option: it’s the law.

Starting Feb. 1, 2008, recyclables that are not properly separated will not get picked up either by municipal or private haulers.   Postcards are being mailed to every Westchester household to let people know that starting Jan. 7, municipal and private haulers will tag trash receptacles with bright yellow warning stickers when they pick up garbage that has been mixed with recyclables. Beginning Feb. 1, however, trash will not be picked up at all unless it is properly separated and a red sticker will be left.