Dear environmental allies,
As Westchester County government prepares its budget for 2026, it still has not completed its ongoing waste reduction study, which we hope will recommend Zero Waste solutions instead of continuing to burn trash. This is disappointing, but we can still make our own recommendations! On Wednesday, December 3rd at 7pm in White Plains, the Board of Legislators will hold a public hearing on the budget, and we need them to hear from sustainability advocates like yourselves! We hope to see you there!
Additionally, the Board of Legislators is holding public input sessions tonight at 6pm in Peekskill and next Wednesday the 19th at 5:30 in Pelham.
Please share the following links with your networks:
Here is a Google Calendar link to the December 3rd event
Here is an Action Network form WASS created that you can fill out to send a message
Here are sample scripts to use for comments
Here is the county’s budget dashboard that includes more info and an email address where comments can also be sent
Why is it essential that waste diversion is funded in 2026? Here’s the timeline:
- In 2022, WASS requested that Westchester County study replacement options for the incinerator.
- In 2023, the county approved money in the 2024 budget to conduct the study.
- In 2025, the county finally began the study, which is not yet finished.
- In 2029, the county’s contract with the incinerator will be up for renewal.
At this rate of change, the county will have no viable alternative to renewing the incinerator contract, kicking the can further down the road and harming the people of Peekskill, the planet, and the public pocketbook. Please raise your voices and let our decision makers know what they have to do!
Sincerely,
Travis Carpenter
Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions (WASS)
