Trash in Westchester ends up in different places, depending on how you dispose of it. First up, our standard garbage bags collected by the village? They journey up to Peekskill where the trash inside is burned at a waste-to-energy incinerator. Burning our garbage pollutes the air and is one of our county’s biggest CO2 generators, so we all need to pitch in to reduce the amount of trash we send there. Sleepy Hollow only recycles about 35% of our waste (the rest of the county averages about 50%!), so we have our work cut out for us. Luckily, we have other options.
RECYCLING: Each year, the county sends less waste to the incinerator as recycling increases. We have a sophisticated materials recycling center in Yonkers, known as the MRF, that sorts our paper, plastics, and metals… and according to the county, recycles them! 94% of curbside recycling is packaged and sold to be recycled. Here are some tips on managing your recycling. The more we recycle, the less waste is burnt up in Peekskill, so sort your plastics, paper, and metals into your blue bins!
FOOD SCRAPS: Food scrap recycling makes a different journey. After our village collects food waste, the county takes over by processing it into nutrient-rich compost. Food waste makes the incinerator run less efficiently, slowing down the process + using more energy – which is why we want you to grow gardens with your leftovers, not the garbage pile! Yard waste (like leaves) are collected at the village’s organic yard waste site, and processing them is also managed by the county.
HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS: Last but not least, H-MRF, the household materials recovery facility in Valhalla, is where a long list of household items should go. If your stuff can’t be reused, repaired, or donated, make an appointment to visit the H-MRF (and resist the urge to toss them out with your trash!). Items they accept include paint, chemicals, e-waste, car tires, and fire extinguishers. More info here.
These different ways to recycle are just one part of the puzzle. Ample ways exist to find a new home, repair, or reuse your belongings – from Sleepy Hollow’s own Community Wardrobe to various TILI (take it or leave it) garages in nearby towns. Find out more on our Reduce / Reuse resource page!
Sustainable Sleepy Hollow 