By the Bronxville Green Committee

Oct. 13, 2021: Our trash is trucked 30 miles north to Peekskill where it is incinerated. This process has pros and cons. Pros: Instead of sending garbage to landfills, it is burned in a giant Wheelabrator facility that generates energy from waste. Cons: The process is expensive, requires significant energy, and creates pollution; the toxic ash that remains is sent to landfills. 

Decreasing waste in our trash stream is a significant contribution we can all make on a daily basis. And, as you know, recycling is an important part of the solution -- it’s good for the environment, economy, and our communities.

Fortunately, recycling in Westchester works! County officials confirm that 100% of what is collected is recycled. According to the 2018 Annual Report, Westchester recovered 70,635 tons of waste through its curbside collection program; the sale of that material generated $4.2 million in revenue. It also saved $5.4 million that would have been spent in tipping fees if this material were treated as garbage. View the report here.

Recycle Right!

Recycling rules can be confusing and recycling incorrectly can cause problems. These include contaminating the material being collected, thereby decreasing its value, and damaging recycling equipment. In 2018, NYS launched the Recycle Right campaign to improve our recycling system and educate residents on how to properly recycle and reduce waste through reuse. 

Here’s a quick overview to take the guesswork out of recycling!  

Step 1: Know your local recycling guidelines

• See Westchester County Quick Recycling Guide 
• Visit the NYS Recycle Right "Recyclopedia" on the web or download the Recycle Right Westchester app by Sustainable Westchester. Both provide curbside trash and recycling guidelines. They also have a searchable tool to confirm how to properly dispose of and recycle over 300 common household items as well as resources to donate or sell your goods for reuse.  
• Don’t “wish cycle.” When in doubt, throw it out!

Step 2: Properly prepare your recyclables

• Plastic, metal, and glass containers should be rinsed and dry. You can put the plastic top back on. Don’t put them in plastic bags, keep them loose in bins. 
• Cardboard and paperboard boxes should be empty and flat. Do your best to remove tape, labels, and staples, as well as film plastic such as cellophane windows. Trash any contaminated portions, such as the greasy part of the pizza box. 

Step 3: Protect recyclables from bad weather

• Use a recycling bin with a secure lid to prevent items from blowing away or getting wet. If inclement weather is expected the night before pickup day, consider waiting and putting the bin curbside early the following morning. The less wet the better!

Step 4: Purchase products made from recycled materials 

• Purchasing products made from recycled material helps to support our local recycling system by creating a demand for collected material. When shopping, look for packaging that says, “Made from post-consumer recycled content.” 

A special note about all film plastic! Never put any type of plastic bag in your curbside pickup. Plastic bags are recycled through a different process. This includes carry out bags, bread bags, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, and plastic wrapping. You can drop off this “film” plastic at the Acme in Bronxville (there’s a designated bin by the exit) or at any other large grocer. Learn more about film plastic recycling here.  

Resources:

• Recycle Right NY
• Plastic Film Recycling
• Bronxville Green Committee Recycling & Donation Tips
• Westchester County Environmental Facilities
• Call the county recycling hotline at (914) 813-5425

The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. We work to propose and implement environmentally sustainable programs in our community. Visit our website to learn more. Please consider joining our efforts! 

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