Watch the full News Conference Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPAFTGBh44U
Westchester County is proud to announce a series of events throughout April in celebration of Earth Month, under the leadership of County Executive George Latimer. These events aim to promote environmental awareness and sustainability practices within our community.
Latimer said: “Together, we can make a meaningful impact on our environment by adopting sustainable practices and promoting responsible waste management.”
Director of Energy Conservation & Sustainability Peter McCartt said: “These Earth Month events highlight a few of the many ways in which the County remains a leader in environmental management, providing opportunities to recycle and to dispose of hazardous materials properly, giving back to our residents with high-quality compost, and recognizing those who have contributed to the County’s environment in a significant way.”
Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities Commissioner Vincent Kopicki said: “Earth Month provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the environmentally-friendly events and opportunities provided by the County and its Department of Environmental Facilities to our residents, not only during April but throughout the year. DEF continues to find innovative ways to improve our local environment.”
- Compost Giveaway at H-MRF Date: Sunday, April 14 Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: H-MRF (Registration required) Westchester County residents are invited to participate in a compost giveaway event at H-MRF. Each registered resident will receive a bag of compost equivalent to about one 5-gallon pail. Beginning Monday, April 1, residents can register for this event at https://environment.westchestergov.com/composted
Eco Awards at Glen Island Date: Thursday, April 18 Time: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Location: Glen Island
Westchester County will host the Eco Awards ceremony at Glen Island, honoring individuals and organizations dedicated to environmental conservation efforts.
- Household Recycling Day (HRD) at FDR State Park Date: Saturday, April 20 Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: FDR State Park
Join us for Household Recycling Day at FDR State Park, where residents can responsibly dispose of household items and learn about recycling practices. For more information go to https://environment.westchestergov.com/residents/household-recycling-days
- Household Recycling Day (HRD) at Sprain Ridge Park Date: Saturday, April 27 Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Sprain Ridge Park
Another opportunity for Household Recycling Day will be available at Sprain Ridge Park. Residents are encouraged to participate and contribute to sustainability efforts. For more information go to https://environment.westchestergov.com/residents/household-recycling-days
- Compost Giveaway at H-MRF Date: Sunday, April 28 Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: H-MRF
Residents can take advantage of this opportunity to enrich their gardens with nutrient-rich compost. Beginning Monday, April 1, residents can register for this event at https://environment.westchestergov.com/composted
In our journey towards a more sustainable Westchester, the County has taken significant strides. Last October, DEF unveiled the Recycle Coach app, a groundbreaking tool designed to revolutionize waste management accessibility for our residents. This innovative platform not only provides essential information on municipal collection schedules and local disposal guidelines, but also features scanning capabilities, empowering individuals to make informed recycling choices and reduce waste in our communities.
- Building on this momentum the County Board of Legislators passed and the County Executive signed the single-use food ware law.
- In 2023, the County’s Household Recycling Day events attracted 3,500 households, resulting in the collection of over 170,000 pounds of waste.
- Over 16,000 households utilized the Household-Material Recovery Facility, delivering 850,000 pounds of waste.
- Additionally, the Mobile Shredder events served 11,271 households, shredding 620 tons of documents for recycling.
- DEF's Residential Food Scrap Transportation & Disposal Program collected over 1,100 tons of food scraps for composting.
There has been a substantial investment of $20 million to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure at County parking facilities. Additionally, the County launched a Grant Program for EV Charging Stations allocating $5 million to support municipal governments to increase the number of EV charging stations.
This past fall, Latimer also signed several crucial environmental bills. The bills represent the County’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our community by addressing pressing issues and meeting the evolving needs of our residents. The environmental law package included:
- The Lead Free Parks Act
- The Addressing Asthma in Communities of Color Amendment
- The Renewable Energy Database Act
- The Equity in Environmental Legislation Act