RYE BROOK, NY — Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester, last night hosted the Westchester Green Business Challenge’s 5th Annual Recognition Event and Awards Ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains.
Joined by WGBC Program Directors Dani Glaser and Scott Fernqvist, organizers recognized a prestigious group of Westchester organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability and outstanding achievements.
Among the winnners was Allied Converters for Outstanding Achievement in Waste Management & Green Products. A New Rochelle-based company, Allied Converters, manufacturers bags, sheets, rolls and shred made from Cellophane, polypropylene, polyester, colored films, or polyethylene.
This year’s winners in their respective categories include:
Outreach & Organizational Commitment: Suburban Carting Company (Briarcliff Manor)
Energy: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Tarrytown)
Waste Management & Green Products: Allied Converters, Inc. (New Rochelle)
Transportation: Diamond Properties, LLC (Mt. Kisco)
Land Use & Water: Purchase College, State University of New York (Purchase)
“The Westchester business community has never been greener, thanks to the Westchester Green Business Challenge and its partners,” said Astorino. “Each year more business leaders are catching on that with the help of this program, they can make choices that are smart for the environment and for their bottom line. Congratulations to the diverse group of businesses recognized today for leading the way within their industries and demonstrating that Westchester is the place to run a successful sustainable company.”
First launched in 2009 in partnership with Westchester County, this public-private partnership between Westchester County and The Business Council of Westchester helps Westchester-based organizations become environmentally sustainable while simultaneously improving operational performance and saving money. To date, over 300 local businesses have joined Westchester Green Business-Certified, which expanded in 2014 to include a new pathway for participants to achieve certification. In addition to the awards, 14 organizations that have achieved certification (see list below) were recognized at the ceremony.
“It has been enormously satisfying to see this program expand in Westchester County and become a regional, statewide and even national model for others to follow,” BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon said. “Employers from all industries are realizing that sustainability is an essential ingredient to their long-term success and ability to retain the most talented workforce.”
The highly prestigious Charles W. Brown, Jr. Sustainability Award was presented this year to Arc Westchester, the largest agency in the county serving children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Headquartered in Hawthorne NY, Arc Westchester has more than 800 employees throughout the county and over 53,000 square footage of office space. They embody the spirit of the Charles W. Brown, Jr. Sustainability Award by incorporating sustainability into all aspects of their business and demonstrating visionary leadership. The award was established three years ago in memory of the founder and owner of C.W. Brown, the Armonk-based firm that became the first existing facility in Westchester to receive LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
About the awards and winners:
Charles W. Brown, Jr. Sustainability Award
Arc Westchester: Arc’s 800 employees provide more than 2,000 individuals throughout the county with a broad range of innovative and effective programs and services designed to foster independence, productivity and participation in community life. Arc Westchester is the largest organization of its kind in Westchester County and is committed to integrating sustainability into all areas of operation, from green purchasing and transportation to sustainable land use and energy choices.
Outstanding Achievement in Outreach & Organizational Commitment
Suburban Carting Company: Serving Westchester County for nearly 40 years, Suburban Carting Company is the largest privately owned and operated waste and recycling company in the area. Based in Briarcliff Manor, Suburban Carting has been a pioneer in the area of recycling collection services and is committed to working with municipalities on improving efficiency, reducing costs, using less fuel and cutting back on carbon emissions. An active member of Westchester Green Business-Certified, Suburban Carting is a leading source of knowledge and expertise for organizations looking to make smarter and more sustainable waste management choices. They are also committed to making the internal improvements necessary to achieve Westchester Green Business Certification in the near future.
Outstanding Achievement in Energy
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Regeneron is a leading science-based biopharmaceutical company based in Tarrytown that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron is a long-time member of the Westchester Green Business Challenge and has implemented a comprehensive sustainability program at its rapidly expanding Tarrytown campus. The company’s energy-related achievements range from the installation of 100+ electric sub meters to new energy-saving lighting fixtures and controls, more efficient heating and cooling systems and solar power plans on the horizon.
Outstanding Achievement in Waste Management & Green Products
Allied Converters, Inc.: Based in New Rochelle, Allied Converters is a manufacturer of bags, sheets, rolls and shred made from Cellophane, polypropylene, polyester, colored films, or polyethylene. Allied is a nearly zero-waste organization as 100% of its manufacturing byproducts and packaging materials are being recycled or repurposed. Since 2011, all paper products, soaps, and cleaners have been converted to environmentally responsible alternatives. In addition, the company trains its employees on waste handling practices and the importance of waste segregation.
Outstanding Achievement in Transportation
Diamond Properties: From recycled paper products, to solar panels, to green cleaning products, to electric cars, Diamond Properties makes new advances every month toward building more sustainable office spaces. Diamond Properties has implemented a comprehensive sustainable transportation program that includes electric car charging stations, shuttles and incentives to take public transportation, incentives for the purchase of hybrid vehicles and bike racks and free showers/gym memberships for employees who bike to work. Diamond Properties was a pilot member of WGB-Certified and one of the first to achieve certification.
Outstanding Achievement in Land Use & Water Resources
Purchase College, State University of New York: Founded by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1967 as the cultural gem of the State University of New York system, Purchase College exemplifies genuine dedication to environmental issues and sustainability. Its achievements in the area of land use and water reflect the diverse challenges facing larger campuses throughout Westchester County. The College has upgraded its storm drains on campus to better handle runoff with bioretention basins and porous pavement. The College is also committed to organic landscaping methods, including drip irrigation systems, grasscycling, mulching of leaves and the use of organic pesticides. Students even monitor invasive and non-native plans on campus.
Event and program sponsors include Con Edison, Verizon, The Westchester Community Foundation, Reckson, a division of SL Green, Allied Converters, Inc., Atlantic Westchester, Inc., The Blue Book Building & Construction Network, C.W. Brown Inc., a division of LeChase, Diamond Properties, LLC, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division, Pernod Ricard USA, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Suburban Carting Company, Thalle Industries, Yonkers Tennis Center, Heineken USA, Vino 100 White Plains.
WGB-Certified Member Organizations to be Recognized (* = certified to date)
- Acadia Realty Trust
- AKRF, Inc.
- Allied Converters, Inc.*
- The Arc of Westchester
- Atlantic Westchester
- The Blue Pig Ice Cream*
- The Bluebook Network
- Cerebral Palsy of Westchester
- Croton Energy Group Inc.
- Crowne Plaza White Plains*
- C.W. Brown, Inc.*
- Dennis Noskin Architects
- Diamond Properties*
- Dominican Sisters of Hope
- Eco-Bags Products
- Encourage Yoga
- Envirocare
- Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm
- Gallin Beeler Design Studio Architects*
- Green Eileen
- Greenburgh Nature Center
- Hendrick Hudson Free Library*
- MetroPool*
In photo, representatives from the 14 organizations that have received certification:
- Montefiore Hospital – Mount Vernon*
- Montefiore Hospital – New Rochelle*
- Murphy Brothers Contracting
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division*
- Pell Wealth Partners
- Pernod Ricard, USA
- Purchase College, State University of New York*
- Reckson, a division of SL Green*
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
- Select Telecom
- Smiles on Hudson
- Strauss Paper Company
- Suburban Carting
- Sun Blue Energy
- Teatown Lake Reservation
- Thalle Industries
- Vantage Etc.
- Yonkers Tennis Center
- York International
- YWCA-White Plains & Central Westchester
For more information about the WGBC, visit www.westchestergreenbusinesschallenge.org