Serino Urges All to ‘Say No to Plastic’ During Earth Month and Every Day
County Executive’s new campaign at local dry cleaners expands Single-Use Plastic Pollution Prevention efforts

HYDE PARK, NY – April is Earth Month and as Dutchess County continues its efforts to promote sustainability and protect the environment, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has announced her new “Say No to Plastic” campaign during a recent visit to Hyde Park Cleaners, a local dry cleaning business. The initiative expands on the County’s Single-Use Plastic Pollution Prevention efforts, encouraging residents to take a simple step toward reducing plastic waste by asking their dry cleaners to skip the plastic covering after cleaning clothes.

“Sometimes it’s the small changes that can make the biggest impact,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “As someone who’s been skipping the plastic bag at the dry cleaners for years, I know how easy it is – and how quickly it adds up. By just saying ‘no’ to the plastic, we can each do our part to protect the environment for future generations and help make Dutchess County a little greener, one choice at a time.”

Single-use plastics are disposable and intended to be used only once, before being thrown away or recycled.  Though typically used for only a few minutes, single-use plastics can take hundreds of years to break down and often end up in landfills or waterways, where they contribute to microplastic pollution and harm wildlife.  Single-use plastics include plastic straws, plastic wrap, plastic cups, Styrofoam®, plastic bags, plastic cutlery/utensils and some plastic takeout containers. 

The choice to “Say No to Plastic” at the dry cleaners is one of many easy ways to reduce single-use plastics.  As part of the campaign, the County will work with dry cleaners across Dutchess to provide signage that encourages customers to opt out of plastic by default. The goal is to make it easy for people to say “no” – and make it the new standard.  Those who do not pick up their dry cleaning quickly (under two weeks) are encouraged to consider reusable garment bags, which are breathable, washable and can be used again and again – offering long-term protection for both clothing and the environment.

Serino encourages all residents to remember the mantra: “Refuse it, if you can’t reuse it.”

Other easy ways to cut down on single-use plastic include:

• Use reusable water bottles rather than buying plastic bottled water.
• Bring reusable cup when purchasing hot or iced beverages (check with your favorite shops for their specific policies).
• When getting takeout or food delivery to eat at home, ask to hold the utensils. Carry reusable straw and utensils and decline straw and plastic utensils when eating out.   
• Check out the many refillery shops that have opened throughout Dutchess County –these shops allow you to bring your container for dry good purchases like cereal, pasta and much more, saving on packaging including plastic liners. 

“Every effort counts – whether it’s a new energy initiative or simply bringing home your clean clothes without plastic wrap,” continued Serino. “It’s about changing the norm, and when enough of us take small actions, they add up to big results.”

Residents are encouraged to join the movement by posting a photo of their clothes without plastic bags (or other ways they are giving up single-use plastics) using the hashtag #SayNoToPlasticDC and tagging @DutchessCoGov on social media.

Dutchess County is a Silver Certified Climate Smart Community, one of only six counties statewide to have earned this highest distinction for its multi-faceted environmental efforts. Throughout April and in the coming months, the County continues those efforts with the Division of Solid Waste Management hosting several programs for residents to participate in including:  

• Earth Day Event at Vassar Barns in Poughkeepsie on Saturday, April 26th from 10am to 1pm
• New Home Composting Workshops at locations throughout Dutchess County – starting April 29th in Stanford.
• New Food Waste Reduction through Everyday Cooking Workshop in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America in June.

More information on these events will be published in the coming days.

Any group or organization interested in learning more about reducing single-use plastics and other reduce/reuse/recycle opportunities can visit www.dutchessny.gov/solidwaste for more info or contact Division of Solid Waste Management at (845) 463-6020 and schedule a presentation with the Recycling Educator.