Aug. 11, 2008

In its most recent push to be a good environmental citizen, Westchester County has found ways to recycle or properly dispose of more than 35,000 pounds of boat wrap, plastic bags and medications that would otherwise have become garbage.

Westchester County has literally “wrapped” up a summer pilot program to recycle the plastic wrap that winterizes boats to the tune of 26,000 pounds - and the hope is that three times that amount will come in next year when the program expands to Hudson River marinas. Plastic bag and medication collections, started in the spring, have been equally successful.

 “Recycling is becoming a way of life in Westchester,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “It’s not all about bottles and cans anymore – although of course we do that too. It’s about making people think about taking the next step to do the right thing and making it as easy as possible.”

The boat wrap collection started with 16 Long Island Sound marinas and boat storage facilities that agreed to collect the wrap discarded each spring and bring it to a designated collection point. As much as 14 pounds of non-biodegradable wrap is used to cover a single boat in the winter to protect against the elements, and it used to go directly into the garbage. This year the Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) picked up the material and sold it to be recycled into products such as guardrails, decking and benches.

Another 8,107 pounds of “waste” poured in when the county announced in the spring that used plastic bags would now be collected at Household Recycling Days. A number of schools got involved and a “Plastic Bag Recycling Day” in June further encouraged youngsters to exchange plastic bags for Fun Cards worth free rides. The result (so far) is 771,210 bags!

Plastic bag collections should get a further boost in the fall when a law goes into effect requiring stores of more than 10,000 square feet that distribute plastic bags to have an in-store recycling program.

 Another new effort redirected 1,286 pounds of unused or expired medications that would otherwise have gone directly into the waste stream – ultimately polluting water or ending up in nearby lakes or rivers. Residents were invited to bring their prescription or over-the-counter pills, liquids, ointments and lotions to one of the county’s Household Recycling Day.

 For years, residents have long been encouraged to bring their household chemicals and other waste materials to Household Recycling Days. Last year monofilament fishing line that can entangle fish, birds and other animals was added to the list of recyclables and bins were installed at popular fishing spots in county parks as well as at many bait and tackle stores and marinas.