By Mary C. Marvin

Jun. 15, 2016:  Over Memorial Day weekend, the village's Green Committee sponsored a very successful "take-back day" collecting gently used sheets and blankets for area animal shelters, shredding papers via use of the Westchester County mobile shredder, and accepting home electronic goods for their safe and environmentally responsible disposal. 

Community Garden:  Next on the committee's docket is the creation of a community garden adjacent to the paddle courts where families may garden and a giving garden devoted to growing vegetables for area soup kitchens and food pantries. The gardens are the result of a partnership with the Bronxville Rotary Club, which has been an enthusiastic supporter of all of the village's recent environmental initiatives.

At our most recent Green Committee meetings, the members suggested I recap some of their initiatives over the years as a gentle reminder to continue best practices. It is so important that our village environmental initiatives take hold on a continuous, not one-shot, basis and be incorporated as multi-generational family habits.

Leaf Blowers:  First among them is adherence to the leaf blower ban in effect from June 1 to September 30. Do not hesitate to call the police desk at 914-337-0500 to report any illegal usage and instruct any lawn service you employ to discontinue use on your property. It will make for a much quieter summer in the village.

Water Conservation:  With the high cost of water in our area, it is incumbent that we find ways to conserve both our wallets and a diminishing natural resource.

Environmental experts recommend watering lawns only once a day and in the early morning when evaporation is at its lowest, thus maximizing the effectiveness of the water. Sprinklers should also be carefully calibrated to ensure that water is never directed onto sidewalks or driveways. Any other property runoff from gutters or sump pumps needs to be directed to grassy areas and not onto the roads or into storm sewers. Pet waste must also never be placed in our sewers, as it is a major contaminant to our entire water system because of the growth of dangerous bacteria.

Grass Clippings:  Leave grass clippings on the lawn this summer, if at all possible. Remaining on the lawn increases the natural enrichment of the soil and eliminates costly collection trips by our public works department. If gathered, please bag them curbside so they don't clog sewers and drains post rain events.

Trees:  Take special care of the trees on your property. The village does not have a tree ordinance, as we historically relied on the foresight and stewardship of our residents to value this intrinsic asset. With few, though glaring, exceptions, this has been the case.

Trees positively alter our environment by moderating climate, improving air quality, harboring wildlife, preserving soil, and conserving water.

The net cooling effect of just one young healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. Well-placed trees on a property can cut air conditioning costs by 10 to 15 percent as well as indirectly cutting the carbon dioxide emissions from cooling units.

Trees on private property also produce great monetary value. Studies have demonstrated that 10 to 23 percent of the value of a residence is based on its tree stock.

More intangible, but of importance nonetheless, are the symbolic links with the past that mature trees provide while other connections have long since gone.

Pesticides:  Care for your lawn and trees without the use of pesticides. All of the village municipal open spaces and our school's property are free of chemicals and pesticides, thanks to the efforts of our Green Committee

Regular pesticide use kills microorganisms in the soil and weakens plants so that they are vulnerable to pest infestation and disease. They can also sicken or kill non-target species such as beneficial insects, fish, birds, frogs, and household pets.

Many of the lawn chemicals used by local landscapers and first popularized in the 1960s were by-products of chemicals produced for use during war and are only now being tested for their true toxicity and actual duration of their potency.

Many commercial pesticides are associated with some risk to human health and the environment. It is actually illegal to claim that any pesticide is "safe," even when used as directed.

Pesticide runoff pollutes ground and surface water, which threatens the safety of our drinking water supply. Also, many lawn pesticides are toxic to aquatic and marine organisms as well.

Other smaller initiatives that can change household habits and incorporate children in the stewardship of their environment are:

• Walking together on an errand instead of driving

• Unplugging appliances, toasters, TVs, and stereos when not in use

• Using multiple-use cloth napkins at meals instead of paper

• Returning plastic bags to the store where items were purchased

• Keeping a reusable bag or two in one's handbag or car to use when making purchases

• Not idling the car while waiting

• Using energy-efficient light bulbs

• Turning off lights when leaving a room

• Buying locally grown food to the extent possible

Our Green Committee is a small but dedicated cadre of citizens. We need more help, as our efforts are quite hands-on and labor-intensive.

We welcome any interested citizens to join us. It is not an advocacy group by design, rather a committee dedicated to fostering proven good environmental practices.

Our next committee meeting is June 27 at 7:15 pm in village hall. Please join us.