GO GREEN White Plains

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What does it mean to Go Green? It means becoming more environmentally aware and changing your behavior and lifestyle to reduce the amount of pollution and waste you generate. The decision to Go Green is a gradual process for most people and governments. In White Plains we are committed to moving toward a greener, more sustainable future because we know that any action we take that contributes to sustainable living makes a positive impact on our environment, our residents, our businesses, and our community.

This page highlights some of the City’s green initiatives. Click the individual images for more information.

CONED
New York State of Opportunity
BikeLane.jpg
EV Charging
Reuse, Reduce, Donate, Recycle
Four test tubes full of oil
Three LED Light bulbs
Solar Icon
A tree in full bloom
Two garbage cans on a city sidewalk
EnergizeNY Logo
A green car with an electrical cord coming out of it
Four wind turbines in an open field
Eat Local.jpg
WP Recycling
A garden
Gedney Landfill
Smart Water Meter

More Information:

CONED

SmartCharge New York: Join the community of electric-vehicle drivers who are earning rewards for charging at *off-peak times. You’ll get a free C2 connected car device that unlocks valuable charging and driving data. Visit https://www.coned.com/en/save-money/rebates-incentives-tax-credits/rebates-incentives-tax-credits-for-residential-customers/electric-vehicle-rewards to learn more. 

solar panels

White Plains has been a leader in New York when it comes to renewable energy. We have wanted to undertake a large-scale solar project using a city-owned portfolio of sites for years, but the low price of energy produced by NYPA and purchased by the City made such a project difficult to justify economically. Now, with NYPA’s consultation, we have been able to achieve our goal. This project is a win – for our residents, the City, and the environment. 

New York State of Opportunity

In 2017 White Plains was designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in recognition of its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs, and driving clean energy locally. The designation gave the City an opportunity to apply for up to $250,000 to be used for additional clean energy projects, with no local cost share. The City received approval to use that funding for a project to retrofit the lighting in four city-owned garages (Chester-Maple, Hamilton-Main, Library, and TransCenter) to energy efficient LEDs. In total, over 2,700 light fixtures were changed from 175 watt high-intensity discharge bulbs to 35 watt LEDs.   Also in 2017, all of the streetlights in the City were replaced with LEDs.   In 2020, the City was approved to replace lighting fixtures in city buildings and facilities, including athletic fields, with LEDs and is replacing a total of 4,125 fixtures.  The work is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2021.

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White Plains currently has 4.7 miles of designated bike lanes and 2.2 miles of shared bicycle/pedestrian paths throughout the city. The portion of the Westchester County-owned Bronx River Parkway pathway in White Plains provides an additional 1.7 miles of protected bike paths for safer recreational and commuting access to the downtown. The City of White Plains is now in the process of planning additional lanes that will provide more East-West connections between existing bike lanes. Bike White Plains

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The City of White Plains currently offers twenty eight publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, the most in Westchester County. The EV charging stations are located in parking structures and lots throughout the City.  EV Charging

Reuse, Reduce, Donate, Recycle

White Plains has implemented an easy way to remove textiles from the waste stream.  Instead of throwing clothing and textiles in the garbage, White Plains residents can now recycle them at the Gedney Recycling Yard.  Help us make textile recycling as routine as recycling plastics and paper. Textile Recycling

Four test tubes full of oil

In July 2014, White Plains passed a law phasing out the use of #6 and #4 fuel oils in all commercial and residential buildings throughout the City.  These fuel oils pose a health risk to those who live in and immediately around the buildings where they are burned and are harmful to the environment. #6 fuel was phased out in 2016 and #4 fuel by June 30, 2020.   Fuel Oil Conversion

Three LED Light bulbs

The City recycles over a thousand fluorescent light bulbs per year using a device called the Bulb Eater®, which safely and effectively crushes them so they can be sent to a recycling facility.

Solar Icon

In January 2014, the City adopted the NYS Unified Solar Permit, an expedited solar permitting process aimed at residential-sized solar arrays. White Plains was one of the first municipalities in the state to utilize the Unified Solar Permit. 

The City worked with The New York Power Authority (NYPA) to accept proposals for a Community Solar Project which would utilize city properties to install solar panels and provide an opportunity to City residents to reduce their energy bills utilizing clean, renewable energy.

A tree in full bloom

In 2016, the City began to assess a Recreation & Parks Impact Fee on new multifamily residential developments. The fee is assessed on a per unit basis and will be used to enhance existing city parks and playgrounds or create new ones.

Two garbage cans on a city sidewalk

White Plains also began piloting Big Belly Solar garbage receptacles in the downtown area in the spring of 2016. Working with the White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) we are adding these solar-powered, self-compacting units to high trash locations. The units are capable of holding five days of litter and send an email to inform City staff when they are full, making for more efficient and environmentally friendly garbage pick up.

A green car with an electrical cord coming out of it

The City of White Plains has begun to transition its fleet to electric and alternate fuel vehicles. 20% of the City’s fleet, approximately 65 vehicles, currently utilizes alternate fuels. This includes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Hybrids, and E-85 Ethanol, and 6 electric cars. Going forward, as cars reach the end of their useful life, the default option for replacement will be an electric or alternate fuel vehicle. Gas-powered cars will only be used as replacement vehicles if there is a definitive reason an electric or alternate fuel vehicle could not be used. The City recently took delivery of 10 new police vehicles all of which are Hybrid vehicles that will be used as front line vehicles for the Police Dept.  

EnergizeNY Logo

Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC) is a New York State non-profit, local development corporation that is focused on helping property owners reduce energy waste, save money and improve the quality of their buildings through clean energy projects involving energy efficiency and renewable energy. The City of White Plains is a municipal member of EIC. EnergizeNY EIC

Four wind turbines in an open field

The City of White Plains is a member of the Community Choice Aggregation program, also known as Westchester Power. This is a community-based energy purchasing program whose mission is to give Westchester County consumers viable energy choices with stable future prices, more access to clean power and opportunities to have sustainable energy systems and programs. Westchester Power

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The White Plains Farmer’s Market features food sold directly by farmers to consumers. Produce sold at the market includes fruits and vegetables as well as prepared foods, baked goods, and beverages. The Market is held on Wednesdays from mid-April through the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and is located on Court Street between Main St. and Martine Ave.

WP Recycling

At the Dept of Public Works’ Gedney Recycling Yard residents can recycle just about anything. The Gedney Yard is also home to the Take it or Leave it (TiLi) Shed where residents can leave their perfectly good but no longer wanted items and browse the items others have left to find something they have always wanted. The TiLi is open from April through October.

A garden

The City’s Recreation & Parks Department offers community garden plots to residents at Baldwin Farm.

The White Plains Youth Bureau’s Growing White Plains program operates two community gardens, one at NY Presbyterian Hospital and one at the corner of Prospect Street and Sterling Avenue, as well as a small greenhouse at Delfino Park. The food that is grown (using organic methods) goes to feed people in need right here in White Plains. This is a volunteer effort sustained by White Plains youth from elementary through high school as well as volunteer individuals, families and groups.

Gedney Landfill

In 2013, White Plains capped its landfill to prevent the possibility of contamination into the surrounding water and soil. The landfill had been used as an incinerator ash dump when the city burned garbage. At the time it was capped, it had been closed for 35 years. The completion of this project, which had languished for years, represented Mayor Roach and the Common Council's commitment to safeguarding the environment for future White Plains residents. The City achieved 100% compliance with NYS DEC requirements and continues to monitor the site on a regular basis.

Smart Water Meter

The City has made significant progress replacing approximately 10,000 residential and commercial water meters as a part of a comprehensive replacement program. In the past, most residents were billed based on a water reading or estimates of their water usage, where readings could not be performed. The new meters provide for accurate water readings on a daily basis and when there is a change in water usage (i.e. due to leaks) the City can inform residents in a timely manner.