Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities

To participate in the online Waste Reduction Survey, residents can visit:
https://arcg.is/GDn8u0

Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) is working with Barton & Loguidice, a consulting firm, on a Waste Reduction Study that will serve as a guide for reducing waste generation and disposal throughout the next decade and beyond.

The study is seeking input from residents throughout the County to gather their opinions on current County waste programs and to learn about where they would like to see resources focused going forward. Barton & Loguidice comes to this project with extensive experience in developing waste reduction plans and strategies, working with municipalities throughout New York State and the nation. The Waste Reduction Study was made possible by a Board of Legislators initiative added to the 2024 Refuse Disposal District budget.

Westchester County is a recognized municipal leader in waste reduction and recycling. Since 2005, the County has reduced the amount of waste it disposes of by over 27%. The County consistently posts annual recycling rates of at least 50%, far outpacing the New York State recycling rate of 43%. Over the past several years, DEF has introduced many new waste reduction initiatives and programs, including programs focused on food waste composting and textile recycling. But the County is not resting on its laurels.

Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) released the New York State Solid Waste Management Plan to serve as a guide to waste management agencies for the next ten years (2023-2032). The stated goal of the NYSDEC Plan is to achieve an 85% total waste stream recycling rate statewide by 2050. The Waste Reduction Study will help the County achieve the State’s ambitious goal.

The County and DEF are asking interested residents to participate in a short, online survey to gauge their knowledge of currently offered waste reduction programs and to find out what types of programs they would like to see available in the future. To participate in the Waste Reduction Survey, residents can visit DEF’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WestchesterCountyDEF or use this link: https://arcg.is/GDn8u0

A public meeting will also be scheduled in the coming weeks to provide another opportunity for residents to learn about this study, and comment on current waste reduction initiatives or suggest new ones. More information on that forum will be available soon.

For more information on Westchester County environmental programs and events, call the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425 and follow us on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/WestchesterCountyDEF

On March 6, 2023, the Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously passed new single-use foodware legislation to reduce waste, including plastic waste. The purpose of the legislation is to reduce unnecessary waste generated from single-use disposable items in the retail food industry, thereby improving the health and safety of the community, protecting our waterways, and saving local businesses money. Food service establishments are required to post signage about the Upon Request Law.

Single use foodware accessories include: straws, utensils, chop sticks, condiment cups and packets, salt and pepper packets, cup sleeves, cup lids, and napkins, provided with ready-to-eat food and designed to be used once and then discarded.

Effective September 2, 2023, Westchester will require consumers to request the single-use foodware items they need. This includes when ordering in person, online or through a food delivery app.

The new legislation states:

• No food service establishment shall provide single-use foodware or condiment packets to any dine-in or take-away customer unless specifically requested;
• Single-use plastic beverage stirrers or single-use plastic beverage “splash sticks” are no longer permitted. Retail stores may sell packages or boxes of single-use plastic beverage stirrers or single-use plastic beverage splash sticks;
• When requested, single-use foodware items or condiment packets must be provided individually and not in a package containing multiple items.

Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) and Department of Health (DOH) inspectors will be working to ensure compliance. Food service establishments in violation of the law may be subject to a fine: 1st-time violations will receive a $100 fine; 2nd-time violations will result in a $200 fine; 3rd-time violations will result in a $400 fine. However, there will be an initial education period during which Warning Notices will be issued in lieu of fines from September 2, 2023, until March 02, 2024. For more information for businesses, see the Fact Sheet for Business (in Spanish and Chinese) and the Upon Request information flyer (in Spanish and Chinese) suitable for printing to comply with the posting requirement of the Law.

All current DOH requirements for health and safety remain in effect. Utensils available in self-service containers for consumers must be in either: a single-use dispenser, placed handle-end up, or be individually wrapped. Questions about DOH requirements should be directed to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914)813-5000.

For more information, contact the Recycling HelpLine at (914)813-5425.

Available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) partnered with Recycle Coach to launch a free mobile app to help make recycling and solid waste information more accessible to County residents.

‘Recycle Coach’ connects residents with their municipal collection schedules, shares local disposal and recycling information and supplies educational tools to help make it easier to recycle products. Users can access Recycle Coach from their desktop computers and mobile devices.

“Recycle Coach compliments DEF’s current education efforts including the Recycling HelpLine, website and educational flyers, offering another way for residents to access accurate recycling information.” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. “DEF looks forward to working with municipalities to begin using this free app, boost participation and improve recycling rates countywide.”

Municipalities and their residents can utilize Recycle Coach to:

• Stay organized with municipality-specific curbside collection and events calendars;
• Receive collection reminders and real-time updates on service disruptions;
• Help reduce the amount of contamination in the curbside recycling stream by learning how to make mindful and informed recycling decisions;
• The comprehensive “What Goes Where?” search tool includes local disposal information and collection requirements for common and uncommon items;
• Image Recognition tool uses your phone’s camera to take pictures to identify items and tell the user how to properly dispose of the item;
• Share useful recycling tips

“Ultimately, the service takes the guesswork out of recycling, empowering residents to make smarter disposal decisions and take an active approach to reducing household waste. For Westchester, this will translate into higher recycling rates and less contamination in our recycling stream—a win-win for everyone,” said DEF First Deputy Commissioner Lou Vetrone

Users can access Recycle Coach for free from their desktop computers and mobile devices. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

For more information, email or call the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425.

DEF, in partnership with HELPSY, further expanded the County's Textile Program to provide curbside textile services to all residents. This service enables residents to schedule free pickup appointments on designated service days and it’s all aimed at encouraging residents to contribute to a greener future by responsibly disposing of their clothes, shoes, towels, rugs, and other textile materials. Contact your local municipality about joining the program. To date, the following municipalities have joined the program and now offer curbside collections to residents:

Curbside Collections: Residents of the following municipalities can schedule home pickups by visiting: https://www.helpsy.com/pickup.

• Ardsley
• Briarcliff
• Bronxville
• Cortlandt
• Croton on Hudson
• Dobbs Ferry
• Elmsford
• Hastings
• Irvington
• Mamaroneck Town
• New Rochelle
• Rye Brook
• Scarsdale
• Sleepy Hollow
• White Plains
• Yonkers

Drop-off Bin Only

• The Town of Lewisboro offers residents easy access to a drop-off bin located at 11 Main Street, South Salem, NY 10590

Additionally, Westchester County DEF, in collaboration with HELPSY, offers textile recycling collection at the H-MRF. Accepted materials include any type of material composed of natural or synthetic fibers such as products made from wool, silk, linen, cotton, polyester, leather, vinyl, hemp, and rayon. Please bag all textiles prior to drop-off.

Drop-offs must be scheduled by convenient appointment online, or by calling the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425. The Recycling HelpLine is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The following items can be dropped off at the H-MRF in any condition (torn, worn, stained, missing buttons, broken zippers, etc.) as long as they are clean, dry, and odorless.

Footwear (in pairs):

• Shoes
• Heels (wedges, pumps)
• Flats
• Sandals
• Flip Flops
• Boots (all varieties)
• Sneakers
• Cleats
• Slippers

Clothing:

• Tops (T-shirts, blouses, shirts, tank tops)
• Sweaters
• Sweatshirts
• Dresses
• Outerwear (coats, jackets, blazers)
• Bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, sweatpants, skirts, shorts)
• Suits
• Socks
• Pajamas
• Intimates (slips, bras, underwear, socks)
• Baby Clothing
• Sports Jerseys

Accessories:

• Hats
• Bags (pocketbooks, backpacks, duffle bags, totes)
• Belts
• Gloves
• Ties
• Scarves
• Bathrobes
• Jewelry

Linens:

• Sheets/pillow cases
• Blankets
• Comforters
• Curtains/Drapes
• Aprons
• Dish cloths
• Cloth napkins
• Table linens
• Comforters
• Quilts