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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced last week that green policies at state agencies have saved New York taxpayers nearly $29.2 million in the first seven years of his administration, while substantially reducing paper use and waste. A new report released today by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of General Services found that state agencies tripled their generation of solar energy in the past two years and doubled their composting of organic waste in the last five years. Agencies have also taken notable measures to eliminate the purchase of bottled water, buy recycled content products, protect pollinators and reduce hazardous chemical exposures through green cleaning.

"New York is leading the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing clean energy sources," Cuomo said. "We are bringing these sustainable practices into our state agencies by making their operations more eco-friendly, reducing waste and increasing recycling - saving taxpayer dollars in the process."

State agency achievements include:

• Copy paper purchasing has decreased 53 percent since State Fiscal Year (SFY) 08-09, saving the State $29.2 million in the first seven years of the Cuomo administration, $55.4 million since reporting began, and $8 million per year.
• Executive agencies have virtually eliminated the purchase of bottled water, and 80 percent of authorities have also eliminated or restricted use to special circumstances.
• The purchase of 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, processed chlorine-free copy paper has doubled since SFY 09-10, from 22 to 46 percent of all copy paper purchased in SFY 17-18.
• The recycling rate for SFY 17-18 is 70 percent, compared to 50 percent first measured in SFY 08-09, and the number of agencies composting organic waste has more than doubled since SFY 12-13.
• The State's green purchasing program won national awards in both 2017 and 2018.
• 9 million kWh of solar energy were generated for agency use in SFY 17-18, more than triple the previous year.
• Four mini-bids released under the State's new Solar Power Purchase Agreements contract in SFY 17-18 have the potential to more than quadruple agency solar output by generating an estimated 56 million kWh of energy per year.

In addition, the state announced the finalization of 11 new and amended green specifications for the purchase of batteries, brake pads, imaging equipment, janitorial paper, paint, pest management (for both indoor and outdoor spaces), prepackaged snowmelt and deicing products, reusable bags, state-funded lodging and trash bags. These new purchasing specifications will reduce environmental impacts, including exposure to hazardous chemicals, in their product class.

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