Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities

Westchester wins when everyone is counted! The Census deadline of September 30, 2020 is fast approaching. Filling the 2020 Census is quick and easy. Respond now at www.My2020Census.gov. Make Us Count PSA (Spanish)

Tune in to Westchester County Government tomorrow, Tuesday June 16th, at 11:00am ET to watch Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) Commissioner Vincent F. Kopicki, P.E. host a Facebook LIVE discussion on the Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medication take-back days are the first Tuesday of every month at the Household Material Recovery Facility in Valhalla! Get a jump start on spring cleaning today. Check our list of acceptable items make an appointment online at environment.westchestergov.com/facilities/h-mrf Our collection procedures at the HMRF allow for social distancing. When dropping off hazardous household material, residents can drive straight to the facility and pop the trunk of their vehicle. Facility staff are able to unload the car while the resident remains in the vehicle. If you have any questions please call the recycling helpline at (914) 813-5425

Composting at Home! The last few weeks, most of us have been cooking at home more than ever before. Whether you've given up on a new sourdough/banana bread recipe or have just noticed an increase in household garbage, this could be a great opportunity to start composting your extra food scraps at home. The NPR podcast Life Kit had a short How to Compost at Home episode, which dives into the process of composting kitchen scraps in any space. Though none of Westchester Cou...nty’s municipal solid waste is sent to a landfill, there are many environmental benefits to decreasing the amount of waste that needs to be transported as garbage. If you have any questions about composting please visit our website or contact the recycling helpline at (914)-813-5425 https://www.npr.org//04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home Westchester County Government Sustainable Westchester Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Inc.

On this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Recycling Office of the Department of Environmental Facilities applauds all those who support the County’s environmental projects. Although our EcoAwards, usually held on or around Earth Day, have had to be postponed, if you’re watching this page, you know that the County is moving forwardeven during this pandemicwith our environmental initiatives. Our thanks to County Executive George Latimer and our Commissioner Vincent Kopicki f...or their continued leadership. Specifically, we at DEF continue to work on our Transportation and Disposal Program, aimed at advancing food scrap recycling County-wide; our Compost and Education Center, to showcase composting actions and the environmental benefits and goals for municipalities, institutions, students, and residents; and our Recycle Right education program. We continue to be available to answer recycling questions through our Recycling HelpLine (914-813-5425) with our partners the United Way of Westchester, our Household Hazardous Material Recovery Center (H-MRF) in Valhalla is open for business (make a reservation on our website), and our Solid Waste Transfer Stations and Material Recovery Facility continue to be fully operational for municipalities to dispose of waste and recycling. Thank you to all the wonderful municipal recycling officials and our local environmental groups that work with us and support our efforts to keep Westchester recycling! Happy Earth Day! Westchester County Government Sustainable Westchester Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Inc. Greenburgh Nature Center Sheldrake Environmental Center Ardsley, New York Bronxville, New York Briarcliff Sustainability Eastchester Environmental Committee Sustainable Irvington Harrison Sustainability Committee Sustainable Dobbs Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council Green Ossining Village of Croton-on-Hudson Government Peekskill Conservation Advisory Council PleasantvilleRECYCLES Larchmont Environmental Committee Sleepy Hollow, New York Town of Mamaroneck Environmental Information Village of Mamaroneck Committee for the Environment Rye Brook Sustainability Committee Tuckahoe Environmental and Sustainability Committee Friends of Rye Sustainability Committee Village of Elmsford City of New Rochelle, NY Scarsdale, New York Town of Yorktown The City of Yonkers

In their most recent Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation provides some tips and best practices to help protect your garbage & recycling workers from COVID-19. Do your best to help protect your local garbage and recycling workers who continue to serve as an essential function in our communities and collect our waste on a weekly basis. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts//bulletins/2855980

During this challenging time, let's show our first responders - our doctors, nurses, police, firefighters and EMS workers - a Westchester "thank you" for all they're doing to keep us safe! #WCThankYou #MyWestchester

This drawing is from a kindergartener who had an online learning assignment to thank an essential services worker We echo the sentiment! Thank you to all of our essential service workers! Did a child in your life decide to thank a sanitation worker, or a wastewater treatment plant operator? Post a picture of their drawing or letter, or send it to us and we will post.

The Household Material Recovery Facility will be closed on 3/31/2020 for facility maintenance. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. If you would like to make an appointment to drop off your hazardous household waste please visit our website or contact the recycling helpline at (914)-813-5425.

With most night and weekend activities cancelled as we all work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some people may be using the time at home to do some early spring cleaning. If you are, remember that special household wastes should not go in the trash, but may be taken to the Household Material Recovery Facility in Valhalla by making an appointment through our Recycling HelpLine at 2-1-1 or 813-5425. We also have scheduled several Household Material Recovery Days throughout the County. Stay safe everyone!

With some schools closed and people staying home, are you looking for a fun learning experience to do with children? Check out the EPA’s Recycle City with a fun, interactive map and recycling games. https://www3.epa.gov/recyclecity/ Just remember, if you’re in Westchester County’s Refuse Disposal District: ~ No residential waste goes to a landfill, it goes to the Wheelabrator Energy From Waste Plant to be turned into electricity and steam! ~ We have a Household Hazardous W...aste Facility in Valhalla for all your household chemicals, tires, and hard to dispose of wastes. You can make an appointment to dispose of your household hazardous wastes through our website. Learn about all our recycling programs on our website and if you see anything in Recycle City and want to know if Westchester does it that way, just post your question here!

Westchester wants to support you in your Community Clean-up Events! Planned clean-up events not only foster a sense of community, they also help keep waste out of our streams and open spaces. Register your community clean-up event at: https://www.volunteernewyork.org/BigClean Not sure how to organize an event? Contact [email protected] and ask for a Big Clean information packet. The packet includes information on how to organize an event and a checklist to follow o...n the day of the event. Together we can ensure Westchester is Clean and Green! Westchester County Government