Our Environmental Legacy

Every year in Rockland, for the last 30 years, our Department of Environmental Resources (DER) and Environmental Management Council ask 5th Grade students from local schools to compete in the Eleanor Burlingham Earth Day Essay, Poster and Poetry contest. And every year I am incredibly impressed by all the entries we receive.

It gives me such great hope for the future when I get to see how active and involved so many of our young people are. This contest also offers a unique opportunity for the County of Rockland to work with local schools to enhance awareness of efforts that can be undertaken locally to make a difference.

This year the students answered the question, “How can we work together (with our family, friends, classmates, etc.) to restore our relationship with our planet?”

I was proud to take part in the ceremony honoring the 9 contest winners from the 100 entries we received this year. What struck me when reading these essays, poems and posters was that these students truly love and appreciate the environment around them.

I shared with the students during the ceremony that we in County government are doing our part to protect the environment. Through the protection of park spaces like Haverstraw Bay where the ceremony was held and by looking for cleaner, greener ways to operate government.

At the end of 2020, Rockland County Government, Rockland Community College and the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority transitioned to 100% green electricity from US generated wind power. And not only are we being environmentally friendly, but by making this transition we are saving over $600,000 over 3 years.

I’m proud of this switch and want to reaffirm to all Rockland County’s commitment to achieving New York State Climate Smart Communities Certification. We will keep working to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while protecting our local environment, so that our younger generations can grow and enjoy it.

But there are steps each of us can take to protect the environment. If everyone begins by making little changes in their lives, all these changes will add up to making a huge impact. Members of my staff are always open to finding new ways to be green and have switched to using bamboo toothbrushes and reusable silicone straws. Those changes have led to many of their friends and family making the switch as well. Showing just how easily small changes can turn into bigger ones.

I have every expectation that thanks to these students and many others just like them that our future is in good hands. But for now, it’s up to us to craft an environmental legacy that they and we can be proud of.