Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino recently delivered a major speech on environmental sustainability at a symposium initiated by the United Nations Academic Impact program in Bari, Italy. Astorino shared some of the successful measures that Westchester County has taken to protect its natural resources and to maintain the quality of life of its residents. He also outlined some of the ways that the county is working to position itself for a future of sustainable development despite current economic challenges.
Addressing an international audience of environmental experts and academics, Astorino likened Westchester’s environmental philosophy to that of former Governor of New York and avid conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt.
“The reason my family and so many families and businesses are drawn to Westchester is because of its rich, natural beauty,” Astorino said. “Government has an important role in protecting our natural resources for present and future generations to enjoy.”
In his speech, Astorino highlighted the county’s commitment to recycling, water purification, wastewater disposal and air pollution reduction, citing the following initiatives:
Using state-of-the-art optical scanning machines that capture 20 percent more recyclable materials and save the county approximately $1.2 million annually,
Utilizing highly effective ultra-violet (UV) technology at one of the county’s water treatment plants and exploring opportunities to team up with New York City to connect to a UV treatment plant that the city is currently building.
Enhancing two of the county’s wastewater treatment facilities to protect sea life in the Long Island Sound by bringing nitrogen down to record low levels,
Installing filters on most of the county’s bus fleet that trap diesel particulate matter (soot).
Astorino noted that current economic conditions and escalating costs make the challenge of protecting the environment that much more difficult. He said the county is employing other strategies that balance the county’s commitment to environmental sustainability with the need for economic growth.
These strategies include: advocating for mass transportation, such as incorporating bus rapid transit into the plan to rebuild the Tappan Zee Bridge; developing public-private partnerships to grow the county’s “green” economy such as the Green Business Challenge; and promoting citizen engagement such as the River Rescue volunteer effort to clean up the Bronx River to help prevent flooding.
The full version of the speech is available on the county’s website at HYPERLINK “http://www.westchestergov.com” www.westchestergov.com or HYPERLINK “http://tinyurl.com/85c4ty7” http://tinyurl.com/85c4ty7.
The symposium, held on February 21, was hosted by the University of Bari Aldo Moro in collaboration with the Puglia Center of America. It was a precursor to Rio+20, the United Nations conference on sustainable development taking place in Brazil in June. Rio+20 will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 conference that the United Nations held on the same topic.
Astorino was in Italy as an invited guest of Archbishop Timothy Dolan to witness his elevation to Cardinal. No taxpayer dollars were used to fund Mr. Astorino’s trip.