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Aug 10, 2023Westchester County’s “Upon Request” Law Aimed at Curbing Use of Single
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Watch the full press event on Youtube.
Business fact sheet flyer.
Consumer fact sheet flyer.
County Executive George Latimer was joined by Westchester County Legislators Vice-Chair Nancy Barr, Legislator Erika Pierce, the Department of Health (DoH) & Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) to Outline the Tenets of this New Law
In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, Westchester County is reminding residents and business owners of its "Upon Request" single-use foodware law, which will take effect on September 2. This legislation aims to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics by promoting a more mindful approach to their usage within food service establishments by limiting the use of single-use foodware products to only when specifically requested by the customer.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer was be joined by the Westchester County Legislators Vice-Chair Nancy Barr, Legislator Erika Pierce, DoH and DEF as they outlined the key tenets of this new law. The Board of Legislators took up this effort and passed legislation spearheaded by Barr and Pierce and signed by Latimer.
Latimer said: “Westchester County is once again taking steps to lessen the waste we put back into the waste stream. From large scale measures to simple changes in our daily behavior, every little bit counts toward our goal of leaving a cleaner planet for future generations.”
The key tenets of the law include:
DoH Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said: “The Westchester County Department of Health is proud to support this new law. Protecting the environment and reducing waste is the cornerstone of Environmental Health. We know that this is an important step in helping to maintain a healthy environment for our residents”
DEF Deputy Commissioner Lou Vertone said: “Billions of single-use plastic items end up in our waste stream every year. Due to the small size and narrow shape of these materials, they are not easily recyclable. Fortunately, County Executive Latimer and the Board of Legislators have taken decisive action to significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic items in our waste with the enactment of this legislation. The Department of Environmental Facilities looks forward to working with the Department of Health to educate residents and food service establishments on the new requirements and to ensure compliance.”
As noted by the owners of LMNOP Bakery in Katonah and Rye Ridge Deli in Rye Brook in the video HERE, this change not only lessens the waste we all put into the waste stream, but also will provide significant cost savings to small business owners.
Barr said: “This legislation is a win-win, as it will help protect our environment by decreasing items in the waste stream, while at the same time lowering costs for businesses, who will no longer provide items which go straight into the garbage. Equally important is the fact that consumers will get accustomed to making a conscious choice about what they actually need.
I hope Westchester residents and businesses will join with us to help spread the word, and that we will all do our part to comply to reduce waste.”
Pierce said: “I began working on this last fall, and I am so very thrilled to see it take effect. Up until now, businesses have often automatically provided people with single use items, many of which were unneeded and went straight into the trash. Through a simple behavior change – asking for the items we need - we can reduce waste, help the environment and save local businesses money. A win for everyone.”
As we collectively strive towards a greener and more sustainable future, Westchester County's "Upon Request" single-use foodware law sets a precedent for responsible consumption and environmental stewardship within the food service industry.