From the Bronxville Chamber: Green Committee Speaks at Annual Meeting on Plastic Bag Ban
By Leah Caro, President, Bronxville Chamber of Commerce
Feb. 12, 2020: On Tuesday, February 6, the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Meeting and heard a presentation from the Bronxville Green Committee.
President Caro stated, “We look forward to working hard for our Chamber members, and continuing to add value to their membership.”
To that end, Ellen Edwards, Chair of the Bronxville Green Committee, addressed the Chamber about the Green Committee’s initiatives and, in particular, about the New York State plastic bag ban that goes into effect on March 1st.
Ellen summarized on-going and new initiatives of the Green Committee, including the Bronxville Giving Garden, Take Back Day, a proposal before the Trustees for food scrap collection and composting, coming-soon curb-side fabric collection for recycling, and participation in the county’s Big Clean Westchester campaign to clean up litter.
She also explained the state-wide ban of single-use plastic bags, set to go into effect on March 1st.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when making purchases in the village since any retail establishment that pays state tax will no longer provide plastic bags.
The state seeks to reduce the 23 billion bags used each year, many of which end up as litter, stuck in trees, clogging storm drains, and eventually reaching waterways, to the detriment of land animals and marine life.
Paper bags are not necessarily an environmentally friendly alternative; making and distributing them has a big environmental impact.
There are many exemptions from the ban: plastic garbage bags, dry cleaner bags, newspaper sleeves, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant take-out.
Retailers of a certain size, and most grocery stores, must still provide collection bins for thin plastic to be recycled.
The law requires that each county choose whether or not to impose a five cents tax on each paper bag given out by retailers. Westchester County has not yet decided whether to impose this fee or exactly how it would be spent.
The Green Committee is eager to work with the Chamber to help their customers make the transition as the plastic bag ban takes effect, and encourage them to bring their own bags. The Green Committee can be reached at
The Annual Meeting also included the election of the 2020 Officers and Board Members of the Bronxville Chamber. Below is a list of the Board leadership and members.
President, Leah Caro, Park Sterling Realty; Vice President, Michele MacMillan, Paws and Play Pet Resort; Treasurer, Yiota Korinoiotu, Bronxville Diner; Secretary, Scott Edlitz, Booskerdoo Coffee:
Board Members: Bob Krause, Mrs. Morgan’s Flowers; Paul Ranieri, DC Ranieri Insurance; Barbara Nichuals, Bayside Travel; Stephanie Weston, The Westchester Bank; Valon Nikci, Link NY Realty; Leo Gjoni, Capital Preservation Partners; Jeff Ungvary, Strategic Wellness & Insurance Management; and Charles Marino, Braxton Engineering
The Bronxville Chamber of Commerce, and its Executive Director, Shannon Gangemi, can be reached at 914-337-6040,
Pictured L to R: Bob Krause, Leo Gjoni, Leah Caro, Michele MacMillan, Stephanie Weston, Shannon Gangemi, Yoita Korinoiotu, Valon Nikci, Ellen Edwards, Scott Edlitz, Jeff Ungvary, Richard Gonzalez, Steve Singer
Photo courtesy Bronxville Chamber of Commerce
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