Mineola, N.Y.-- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) and Thomas Maher, the Nassau County Director of Environmental Coordination, were joined by Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizen's Campaign for the Environment and Neil Lewis, Executive Director of the Long Island Neighborhood Network, to announce the launch of the Nassau County office recycling program at One West Street. The launch comes on the heels of America Recycles Day 2004.

"With the County's fiscal crisis now clearly behind us, we are in a better position to do the kinds of things that should have been done long ago like launching the County's office recycling program and beginning to correct the previous administration's sheer neglect of environmental programs," said Suozzi. "Our employees and the public must recognize that recycling saves natural resources, conserves energy and reduces pollution. We should all take pride in the fact that our recycling efforts make a difference."

Starting today, employees at One West Street will be expected to recycle paper, beverage containers, cardboard, electronic equipment and ink and toner cartridges. The appropriate recycling bins will be provided throughout the building and will be monitored by recycling coordinators, department heads, office managers and custodians. Illustrated posters, pamphlets, emails and announcements will educate staff about the recycling program. After a three month period, the recycling program will be extended to other buildings with the exception of electronic recycling, which is currently available to all county facilities.

"Recycling has become a way of life for all of us at home and it only makes sense to carry these good habits over to the workplace," said Presiding Officer Jacobs. "The Legislature will continue to monitor the recycling program's progress and work with the Administration to expand the program to other County facilities."

"Because of the wide range of materials to be recycled, we are encouraged that this will be both a comprehensive and cost-effective office recycling programs that benefits both employees and taxpayers alike," said Mr. Maher.

For more information on the recycling program, please contact Brad Tito, Assistant to the Director of Environmental Coordination at 516-571-5825.