On Earth Day Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) hosted the 2022 Eco Awards at Glen Island Park. The Eco Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the environment and sustainability made by residents, students, schools, municipalities, businesses, and other organizations.
Latimer said: “The Eco Award winners range from students to municipalities and beyond. When we see what can be done, we know that there is more to be done and more ideas to be developed to improve and protect our planet. These initiatives and projects improve our County’s environment and sustainability, while helping to make Westchester County a healthy, green place to live, work and visit.”
Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Facilities Louis Vetrone said: “Westchester County continues to be a leader in environmental management and sustainability, and our residents, businesses and school districts are a major part of that success. The Eco Awards provide an opportunity to recognize those contributions.”
Westchester County Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability Peter McCartt said: “No better and wonderful way to recognize these organizations, businesses, municipalities, and individuals for their conscientious and diligent work for the good of the local and global environment than holding these Eco Awards today, on Earth Day. We are very fortunate here in Westchester to have the many non-profit organizations and volunteers assisting the municipalities with our sustainability efforts, and because of them and our elected officials, we are a lot further along than many other counties, states, and regions.”
The County continues to be a leader in recycling and environmental initiatives, with DEF’s Residential Food Scrap Transportation and Disposal Program having reaching 20 member-municipalities this month. The ingenuity of the recipients and the efforts of the municipalities and others help to make Westchester County a green place to live and work.
2022 Eco Award Honorees:
Town of Pound Ridge: for achieving the highest municipal curbside recycling rate in Westchester County in 2021
City of Mount Vernon: For its Grab & Go Program, that distributes food to the food insecure and recycles inedible food scraps at the County’s CompostED Facility
Village of Larchmont: for establishing Westchester County’s first “Green Zone” at Kane Park
Port Chester Middle School & Allison Silverman: For developing a “Big Ideas of Sustainability” after school program for the school’s Giving Garden Club that teaches students about sustainability and environmental justice
Riley Hester: For her dedication to improving local recycling by coordinating local collection programs and educating residents on how to recycle through the Recycle Right with Riley campaign
Sustainable Materials Management, Inc.: For operating the first commercial food scrap composting facility in Westchester County
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Mission Center: For having the largest solar canopy system in Westchester County that provides energy to over 200 low to moderate income households
Westchester County Association & Pace University Energy and Climate Center: For the creation of the Clean Energy Program Portal – a dynamic and searchable guide to clean energy programs and incentives for businesses in Westchester County and the surrounding region
Janet Harckham: For her tireless efforts to improve our local environment
Robert Greco: For his many years of hard work and dedication to environmental programs in Yonkers
Mario Parise: For over 40 years of service and dedication to improving Westchester County’s environment