Westchester County’s Solid Waste Commission has launched a program designed to make it at least a bit easier for small businesses, especially minority and/or women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) to become active in the hauling market in the county.
The commission says that this is the first program of its kind in its history that is strategically designed to lower the barriers and upfront costs for small businesses looking to enter the haulage sector in Westchester. The program reduces application fees, annual costs, and 4-year renewal fees by as much as 36% for eligible Class C2 Haulers who own or lease one vehicle.
The Business Journal was told that the commission had initially identified six businesses that qualify for the program. Four of them are based in Westchester, one is in Sullivan County and one is in Pennsylvania. The program is open to haulers based outside of Westchester that want to operate in the Westchester market. The commission has received additional applications and plans to review ownership of all of the approximately 600 companies licensed to operate in the Westchester hauling market to determine whether any others could qualify for the program. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. The principal or principals of a business may not have ownership in another related business. The program cannot be used by a business that rents or leases containers to customers.
Monti’s Haulers in Monticello was the first woman-owned business that was selected to participate in the program. Its owner is Nilovna Martinez. The commission was expected to give its approval for Monti’s Haulers to enter the program at its June meeting.
The other hauling companies initially accepted for the application and approval process were: E. Fernandez Trucking Inc., based in White Plains; Shanamar Transport in Mount Vernon; G. Duce, based in Croton-on-Hudson; Dsb Trucking based in Elmsford; Yankee Transport from Honesdale, PA. If the paperwork and investigations are completed in time, some or all of them also might receive final approval at the commission’s June meeting.
“When we talk about supporting innovation and fostering inclusive economic growth, efforts like this are truly transformative,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. “I applaud the big picture thinking of the Solid Waste Commission for seeing an opportunity in hauling license fees and how much impact removing a financial barrier like this can have, both in the short and longer term.”
The Westchester Solid Waste Commission is comprised of Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Finance Commissioner Karin Hablow, Consumer Protection Director Jim Maisano, Environmental Facilities Commissioner Vinny Kopicki, County Police Commissioner Terrance Raynor and Jennifer Fields-Tawil and Hon. Anthony Scarpino, who is the commission’s chair.
“We voted unanimously and enthusiastically to greenlight this pilot,” Jenkins said. “When you can remove impediments from those who will benefit the most and reduce the upfront costs for small businesses to get started in a field like this we are creating new opportunities while helping to stimulate the economy. It’s a win-win-win.”
Solid Waste Commission Executive Director Peri Kadanoff, said, “Opening up the hauling industry directly impacts and supports those in construction and development because it expands our capacity to take on more projects to enhance our county.”
County law requires comprehensive background investigations of all applicants for a solid waste hauler’s license, which is part of the county’s efforts to combat criminal activity in the industry. The Solid Waste Commission requires all haulers and transfer stations have a county license to operate.
