Department of Environmental Services

Sanitation Division Updates:

Please note that these new regulations are in effect as of 12-11-09 in the Town of Cortlandt.

We have taken the opportunity to put these regulations on our Website prior to the mailing of the 2010 Recycling Guide for Cortlandt Residents.

Change in Policies and Fees:

Sofa-beds:

• All metal frames must be removed by the homeowner and placed separately at the curb with all other metal products for bulk pick-up.  Sofas without metal bed frames may still be placed out with regular solid waste. There is no fee for this pick-up service. 
• If the homeowners does not want to wait for their scheduled bulk pick-up date, a special pick-up may be arranged at the current fee.

C & D Debris from Homeowners (non-contractor generated):

• Due to the increased enforcement by Westchester County we must cooperate with the current laws regarding C & D debris disposal.  We may not take this debris to RESCO in Peekskill but must haul this C & D debris to an approved transfer site and pay their private transfer/disposal fees.
• Residential Pick-up:
  • Removal can be arranged by special pick-up. 
  • Fees are as follows:
    • C & D – up to 2 cubic yards - $75.00
    • C & D – up to 1 cubic foot - $25.00

o   Exceptions:

§  There are no arrangements for contractor C & D removal by the Town. Please make sure that you include contractor removal of debris on your property.

Additional Information:

The Local Laws of Westchester County amended Chapter 825 of the Laws of Westchester County with respect to Source Separation for Solid Waste Reduction by Maximization of Recycling including Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D).

(The following are excerpts of the Westchester County Law-Chapter 825)

Recycling Definition:

• Recycle means any method, technique or process utilized to separate, process, modify, convert, treat or otherwise prepare solid waste so that its component materials or substances may be beneficially used or reused.

C & D Definition:

• “Construction and demolition debris or (C&D) means uncontaminated solid waste resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair and demolition of structures and roads, and uncontaminated solid waste consisting of vegetation resulting from land clearing and grubbing, utility line maintenance and seasonal and storm-related cleanup. Such waste includes, but is not limited to, bricks, concrete and other masonry materials, soil, rock, wood, wall coverings, plaster, drywall, plumbing fixtures, non-asbestos insulation, roofing shingles, asphaltic pavement, glass, plastics that are not sealed in a manner that conceals other wastes, electrical wiring and components containing no hazardous liquids, and metals that are incidental to any of the above.”

Recyclables Definition:

• Newsprint: Newspapers as purchased, including any glossy inserts.
• High-grade paper: Includes high quality paper such as letterhead, copier paper, typing paper, tablet sheets, computer printout paper, and all paper of similar quality. This term shall not include carbon paper, self-carbonizing paper, coated or glossy paper, envelopes with windows or adhesive labels. Residential waste generators are permitted to commingle high-grade paper with newsprint; however, non-residential waste generators are required to separate high-grade paper from newsprint.
• Glass: Glass jars, bottles and containers of clear, green or amber (brown) color, used to store food or beverages only, which must be empty and rinsed clean. This term excludes ceramics, window or automobile glass, mirrors and light bulbs.
• Metals: All ferrous and nonferrous food and beverage containers, including steel, aluminum and bimetal, which shall be empty and rinsed clean.
• Bulk metals: Large metal fixtures and appliances, including white goods such as washing machines, refrigerators, etc. This term excludes metal containers utilized to store flammable or volatile chemical materials, such as fuel tanks.
• Plastics: All HDPE or PET type plastics coded 1 or 2, including food, beverage, detergent and shampoo containers, which shall be empty and rinsed clean. This term excludes all plastic film, plastic bags, vinyl, rigid plastic (e.g., toys) and plastic foam materials.
• Yard waste: Leaves collected during the fall only.
• Vehicular batteries: Lead-acid batteries used in automobiles and heavy equipment; excludes household batteries (e.g., for flashlights, radios, cameras, etc.).
  • Used motor oil: The type used in gasoline and diesel vehicle and equipment engines, delivered in an uncontaminated container.
  • Cardboard including corrugated cardboard containers, which must be cleaned of excessive amounts of contaminants such as adhesives, metals and plastics; cereal boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel rolls or any other noncorrugated materials made from cardboard. 

• C & D Recycling:

  • Waste generators shall not be required to source-separate recyclables contained in construction and demolition debris, provided that such debris is brought to a facility where recyclables can be separated from the nonrecyclable solid waste.
  • Each waste generator shall provide for the removal of those separated recyclables which the waste generator is required to source-separate pursuant to subsection 1. above from the property on which they are generated either through service provided by a municipality, by a hauler or a recyclables broker, or by taking these materials directly to a recyclables transfer, storage or processing location.

  ·         In the case of multi-tenant buildings, the owner of such building is responsible to provide the following: appropriate container(s) to hold source-separated materials for the entire building separate from the container(s) where the building's solid waste is stored.

   

  2008 Amendment

  Subsection 1 of section 825.40 of the Laws of Westchester County is

  hereby amended to read as follows:

  • Every waste generator in Westchester County shall be responsible for the

        source separation of solid waste and recyclables at the point of generation. Waste

  generators shall source-separate additional materials designated as recyclables by a local municipality pursuant to § 120-aa of the General Municipal Law, if that municipality provides or causes to be provided collection of such materials for the waste generator or a location within that municipality for delivery of such materials by the waste generator. Waste generators shall not be required to source-separate recyclables contained in construction and demolition debris, provided that such debris is brought to a facility where recyclables can be separated from the nonrecyclable solid waste. All waste generators shall commence source separation on September 1, 1992.