City of Middletown, CT
Frequently Asked Questions
- A typical household bill has been reduced by an average of $118 annually.*
- We were able to reduce your yearly waste fee, despite the rising costs of trash across the state, by shifting the disposal cost into the price of the orange trash bags.
- This puts you in control of your trash costs. This system (Save As You Throw or SAYT) is similar to electricity where the user pays a basic amount that covers fixed costs and then a user fee (bags) for the amount used.
- Paying only for the trash that you make means you have the power to save money by recycling more and separating food scraps.
- The more you donate, re-use, reduce, recycle, and separate out food scraps, the less orange bags you buy! Save money by making less trash.
*Note this reduction is just for cart services
Check out this graphic, which explains how it will affect your wallet.
Households and businesses that use cart services in Middletown’s Sanitation District are required to purchase City official orange trash bags. Customers can save money and buy less orange bags by purchasing green bags for a lower price! Green bags are for food scraps, and get sent to anerobic digester. At home and at work, customers separate food scraps from their trash and place in the green bags. Regular trash goes in the orange bags. Acceptable recyclable materials can go in your recycling cart as usual. Each week on your regular collection day, customers will place their securely closed green and orange bags together in their trash cart for curbside pick up.
The City has changed the way its customers pay for trash. Trash is now treated like a utility, similar to electricity, where you pay for how much you use. Instead of everyone paying the same flat fee, customers who throw away one or two bags a week, will pay less than those who throw away three or more bags a week. Customers who reduce waste, recycle right and separate their food scraps will no longer subsidize those who generate more trash.
All property owners using the Sanitation District cart service received a reduction in their November 2023 bill. The fee was reduced to include only the operational costs of the District. The cost of disposing of the waste is included in the cost of the orange bag. This is why the cost of the bag is more and, yes, trash disposal is expensive. If you are not using the required orange bag, you are not paying your bill.
Since landlords received the cost savings, the City is recommending that they pass this savings to their tenants by providing a reasonable amount of orange and green bags. If the lease includes trash disposal services, this should be done. We suggest landlords provide their tenants with a supply of bags equal to the cost savings they received in their bill. This is equivalent to 52 green bags per year (1 bag per week) & 104 orange bags (2 bags per week) per year. This could be split into six month segments, since the billing occurs every six months. Tenants would be required to purchase any additional bags themselves if they use more than this amount.
Property owners will be held responsible for non-compliance.
The City has changed the way its customers pay for trash. Trash is now treated like a utility, similar to electricity, where you pay for how much you use. Instead of everyone paying the same flat fee, customers who throw away one or two bags a week, will pay less than those who throw away three or more bags a week. Customers who reduce waste, recycle right and separate their food scraps will no longer subsidize those who generate more trash.
All property owners using the Sanitation District cart service received a reduction in their November 2023 bill. The fee was reduced to include only the operational costs of the District. The cost of disposing of the waste is included in the cost of the orange bag. This is why the cost of the bag is more and, yes, trash disposal is expensive. If you are not using the required orange bag, you are not paying your bill.
Since landlords received the cost savings, the City is recommending that they pass this savings to their tenants by providing a reasonable amount of orange and green bags. If the lease includes trash disposal services, this should be done. We suggest landlords provide their tenants with a supply of bags equal to the cost savings they received in their bill. This is equivalent to 52 green bags per year (1 bag per week) & 104 orange bags (2 bags per week) per year. This could be split into six month segments, since the billing occurs every six months. Tenants would be required to purchase any additional bags themselves if they use more than this amount.
If you are a renter, speak to your landlord about providing the required trash bags. If they refuse, we are providing bags to renters who qualify. Use our Bag Assistance form to apply. We are watching this dynamic carefully and want to hear your how this is being handled in the community. Please contact us at 860-638-4858 or recycling@middletownct.gov if you are having trouble complying with this requirement. Please note, because of the increasing costs and lack of disposal capacity, all of us have to rethink how we manage our waste. We all have to be responsible. It is very important, that all waste and recycling regulations are followed properly and other actions are taken to reduce the amount of trash that is sent to landfills and incinerators. If you have ideas on waste reduction, let us know!
Bags are available at:
ReBoot Eco (131 River Rd)
Price Chopper (855 Washington St., at the guest services desk)
Smith & Bishel (155 Main St)
Corner Stop (221 Newfield St)
Stop and Go (294 So. Main St)
Walgreens (311 E. Main St)
Walgreens (633 Washington St)
Stop and Shop, 416 E. Main Street
City Hall Rm. 210 (check, card, or exact cash only)
Order
Online HERE.
Price per roll of bags: green
4 gal (counter-top): $1.50 per roll of 10
8 gal. (bucket) size: $2.50 roll o f10
Price per roll bags: orange
33 gal (large/family): $8.25 per roll of 5
15 gal (pilot size): $5.00 per roll of 5
8 gal (seniors & singles): $7.00 per roll of 10
If you would like to purchase a larger quantity of bags, please let the Middletown Recycling Office know in advance at recycling@middletownct.go
- A typical household bill has been reduced by over $100 annually.*
- We were able to reduce your yearly waste fee, despite the rising costs of trash across the state, by shifting the disposal cost into the price of the orange trash bags.
- This puts you in control of your trash costs. This system (Save As You Throw or SAYT) is similar to electricity where the user pays a basic amount that covers fixed costs and then a user fee (bags) for the amount used.
- Paying only for the trash that you make means you have the power to save money by recycling more and separating food scraps.
- The more you donate, re-use, reduce, recycle, and separate out food scraps, the less orange bags you buy! Save money by making less trash.
*Note this reduction is just for cart services
Yes! Only Official City of Middletown green and orange bags
are accepted after Nov. 1, 2023. Penalties will be issued for non- compliance. Note that it is not mandatory to use the green bags, however, since food makes up a big portion of household trash, you will save money and buy fewer orange bags by separating out the heavy, stinky food. This is better for
the environment too.
No. This program will not require you to change the containers you use for your trash bags. You can place both the orange trash bags and green food scraps bags together inside your trash cart. Please ensure the bags are tied for disposal.
There are no changes to the recycling program. Please continue to place your bottles & cans, paper & cardboard in your recycling bin. Items should be clean and dry and placed loose in your bin. Questions about recycling? Learn more about recycling here.
Once collected, the green food scrap bags will be separated from the orange trash bags at the transfer station facility. The green food scrap bags will then be sent to Quantum Biopower in Southington, CT. Quantum is an anaerobic digestion facility that turns food scraps into clean, renewable energy and compost, saving it from the trash can.
No. Remember, co-collection is not adding new odors to your waste stream. It is simply separating food from trash. Food scraps in separate green bags produce no more odor than when it’s not separated from the trash. Keeping a tight lid on your indoor kitchen food scrap collection bucket will keep odors out. Rinsing kitchen buckets as needed and putting food scrap bags out for weekly collection (even if they are not full) should keep odors to a minimum. In the summer, you may choose to keep food scraps in the freezer in a separate container until just before collection.
Here are some additional tips:
Seal it. Keep the lid tightly closed at all times to prevent odors and nuisance pests like fruit flies.
Cool it. Store your bin out of direct sunlight if you can, as heat can speed up smells.
Cover it. You can also add in any newsprint, soiled paper towels, or napkins to your food scrap bag, as that might assist with any odors. Stale bread can also help here.
Freeze it. If you are finding that even with the lid the smell is off-putting, consider keeping a small container (such as a small bag or Tupperware-type bowl) in your fridge/freezer to collect the scraps before you transfer to the green bag and place out on your collection day. Nothing can stink when it is frozen! If you can’t fit all of your food waste inside the freezer, consider freezing meat and dairy scraps as they are often the smelliest.
Sprinkle it. If your kitchen pail smells, sprinkle a bit of baking soda inside to neutralize the smell.
Drain liquids before putting food scraps in your kitchen bin.
Include soiled paper towels and napkins to help absorb liquids.
Keep food scraps in freezer until just before pickup.
Wrap meat, poultry, and fish in newspaper.
To get rid of summertime fruit flies, set a trap. Place a small bottle of cider vinegar, with a few drops of dish soap added to it, near your kitchen bin.
Place your green food scraps bag out for collection every week, even if it is not full.
With co-collection you are just moving food scraps into a different bag. You also won’t need to take out the trash as often.
Backyard composting is great and encouraged! You may decide you want to use curbside co-collection for certain items (eggshells, meat, bones, and dairy, prepared foods) or to use in the winter.
To reduce the risk of costly sewer backups, we strongly urge residents to switch from in-sink disposals and use the curbside co-collection program for food scraps. It will also save on your water usage and produce usable fertilizer.
Reduce your food waste. Keep your refrigerator clean and organized so you know what you have before you shop. Store leftovers in clear containers so you can see what’s in them. Use a shopping list. Use your freezer. Reduce other household waste by avoiding single use disposable items and choose products with minimal packaging.
· Reuse: Use reusable shopping bags and coffee mugs. Repurpose glass jars at home. Donate household items and clothing. Consider cloth napkins.
· Recycle: Remember the basics: Recycle your paper & cardboard and empty bottles & cans. Items should be clean and dry and placed loose in your collection bin. Also, try the What’s In What’s Out tool at www.recyclect.com Type in the product you are wondering about and the tool will tell you if its recyclable.
· Compost: Place all your food scraps in the green bags! Fruits & Veggies, Eggs & Eggshells, Meat & Seafood (include bones and shells), Coffee Grounds & Tea Bags, Dairy, Pasta, Grains & Bread, Cookies, Cake, & Candy. You can also include food-soiled paper, such as napkins and paper towels, greasy pizza boxes. Please no plastic, no metal, no sanitary waste, no pet waste.
More Information
For more information, please contact the City of Middletown Department of Public Works
Middletown Public Works is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Contact
City of Middletown
245 deKoven Drive
2nd Floor, Room 210
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 638-4850
www.middletownct.gov