Pleasantville Earns 3 County Earth Day Awards

Pleasantville has been named Westchester County's leader in municipal recycling rates for 2012, according to a statement from County Executive Rob Astorino's office.

With a pounds per person daily (PPPD) amount of 0.21, the village out-recycled all other Westchester municipalities, including second-place Hastings (0.19) and third placers Ardsley, Bronxville, Irvington, North Castle and Rye, which each had 0.17.

"Westchester County is looked upon as a leader in environmental stewardship, and a major reason for that is the continuing commitment made by our communities, residents and local businesses in improving the county’s local environment for the enjoyment and health of everyone," said Astorino in the statement. "These awards are a great opportunity to recognize that commitment and dedication."

In addition, local organization PleasantvilleRecycles will be recognized at Sunday's Earth Day celebration at Kensico Dam Plaza for the Zero Waste Initiative it introduced at the 2012 Pleasantville Music Festival.

"This program reduced the waste typically generated at the Festival by about 65 percent down from 5.5 tons in 2011 to 1.85 tons in 2012," PleasantvilleRecycles said in a press release.

The organization plans to bring the program back at the 2012 festival this July.

Thirdly, the Pleasantville Middle School Eco Footprint program has won an award and will also be recognized this weekend.

"This program involving the 6th grade began in 2011 and inspired the students to start composting fruit waste on Fridays," the county reported. "It also educates parents on car idling, and reduces paper use through less printing and by switching to an online learning system for homework."

The PMS program was made possible through a Pleasantville Fund for Learning grant and help from the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation. Teacher Sara Keegan introduced a sustainability fair to coincide with the initiative this year.

Westchester County's Earth Day celebration is scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. Awards will be handed out at noon. There will be live music, a "green" raffle, a farmers' market, "green" exhibits and more. Admission and parking are free.

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