Today’s Sponsor:
Topics covered during this episode:
- Rockland Green’s new Food Scraps program
- Update on the new planned animal shelter facility
- Paper shredding events in the coming months
A text summary of the episode is available below. For more information on the programs specified, vist the Rockland Green website.
Town of Haverstraw Supervisor Howard Phillips and Rockland Green’s Executive Director Gerald Damiani dropped into the Rockland News studio for an interview today.
Some of the highlights of the interview: Rockland Green is continuing to expand its residential programs and is going into a new phase of development of the new animal shelter, to replace the current one at Firemen’s Memorial Drive in Pomona.
Here’s a closer look at three significant updates from today’s podcast:
Rockland Green launches new Food Scraps recycling program
Rockland Green’s Food Scraps program, now active in the Town of Haverstraw and Stony Point, builds upon an initial pilot initiative in Orangetown. Designed as a voluntary program, it aims to reduce landfill waste and promote the production of nutrient-rich compost. Participants receive a “Food Scrap Kit,” including a countertop container, compostable liners, and a larger transport bin. These kits enable residents to collect food waste like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat scraps, which are then dropped off at designated collection centers.
The program processes these scraps at the biosolids facility in Hillburn, blending them with treated wastewater sludge to create a compost product. Future goals include generating biogas from food scraps for energy production. According to Gerald Damiani, Executive Director of Rockland Green, food scraps constitute one of the heaviest components of municipal waste, making this initiative environmentally and economically significant.
For more informationon the Food Scraps program, residents can visit Rockland Green’s website or call 845-753-2200.
Progress on new animal shelter construction
Rockland Green’s new animal shelter is underway, set to be a state-of-the-art, 28,000-square-foot facility at 427 Beach Road in Haverstraw. O’Connor Company from North Carolina, with a local presence in Goshen, NY, has been awarded the contract for this $18 million project. The shelter aims for substantial completion by December 2025 and will comply with New York State’s legislation to further protect animals.
Designed by architectural specialists BDA Architects from New Mexico, the facility will cater to over 120 dogs, 224 cats, and 213 exotic animals. This modern shelter will replace the aging facility in Pomona, which faced significant challenges accommodating Rockland County’s growing animal welfare needs.
Phillips emphasized the collaborative effort in securing this project, while Damiani underscored its potential to provide compassionate and quality care to animals affected by neglect or abandonment. Initiatives like trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats and low-cost spay/neuter services further complement the shelter’s operations, addressing root causes of overpopulation. They noted that the shelter’s current neutering program has methematically prevented the birth of up to 199,000 feral cats.
Community paper shredding events
Rockland Green’s paper shredding events provide residents with an opportunity to safely dispose of sensitive documents while supporting sustainability. These events are designed not only reduce household clutter but also include a charitable component—accepting non-perishable food donations for local food banks.
Supervisor Phillips closed by noting dual benefit of these events: reducing paper waste and supporting local communities.
More stories:
Rockland Business Women’s Network to Host Inaugural Women’s Success Summit on January 23, 2025
Palisades Center to Welcome Businesswomen for Career Growth and Development West Nyack, NY – The Rockland Business Women’s Network (RBWN) is launching its first-ever Women’s Success Summit on January 23, 2025, a one-day event designed to empower and support women at all stages of their professional journeys. The summit will take place from 10:00 a.m.…
Snowbound Edition: Jan 20, 2025
Sponsor: Jan 27, 2025, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMFiesta Acapulco Restaurant, 79 S Liberty Dr, Stony Point, NY 10980, USA This Week’s Guests (In order of appearance): Phil Rutigliano: Meals on Wheels – Celebrating 50 years! Hopeton Scott: Business Financial Compass – Managing your business finances. Michael Dolce: Secrets of the Sire Comic Book -…
Ilona Marie Moran
Ilona Marie (Stampf) Moran died peacefully surrounded by family in her home on January 16, 2025, after a long illness. The oldest of four children, Ilona was born November 7, 1940, at Lenox Hill Hospital, NYC to her loving parents John and Theresa (Marth) Stampf. She graduated from Taft High School in 1957 at the age of 16 and…
Stony Point Seals host kickoff event; this year’s plunge to support four local families
Rockland County, NY – The Stony Point Seals are once again rallying the community to support four Rockland families in need of medical assistance. This year’s group of recipients include Alex Padilla, a 14-year-old New City resident recovering from a severe accident involving a truck while riding his bike last year; six-year-old Elizabeth Rojas, who…
Germonds Park Improvement Project Underway in Clarkstown
Clarkstown, NY – Town Supervisor George Hoehmann has announced the start of construction on the Germonds Park Improvement Project, which will enhance softball, baseball, and multi-purpose athletic facilities in the town. Upgrades to Existing Baseball & Softball Fields – Work has begun on improvements to the softball and baseball fields at Germonds Park, including renovations…
Continue Reading Germonds Park Improvement Project Underway in Clarkstown
Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Adopts Blue Envelope Program to Support Drivers with Autism
Rockland County, NY – Sheriff Louis Falco, III announced that the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office is adopting the Blue Envelope Program, a safety initiative designed to assist drivers with autism during interactions with law enforcement. Falco emphasized the importance of this program, explaining that individuals with autism may display physical movements or verbal responses that…
This Week’s Featured Event:
Thanks for joining us on this week’s edition of the Rockland News Week in Review.