Program Details

Connecticut is Facing a Trash Crisis

  • Waste disposal capacity in the US is shrinking.

  • The New England region is expected to lose 40% of its trash disposal capacity in the next 5 years and up to 100% by 2040.

  • The MIRA incinerator in Hartford, is no longer burning trash. This facility was relied on by 36 Connecticut communities, leaving them without a disposal site.

  • This loss of trash disposal capacity is significantly affecting ALL Connecticut communities.

  • The alternative of trucking CT trash up to 600 miles out of state is expensive and not sustainable. We need a new approach.

We Need to Reduce Waste

  • Food scraps make up 20% of the waste we currently throw away and can easily be converted to energy and compost right here in Connecticut.

  • Weekly Curbside Food Scrap Co-Collection would allow residents to recycle their food scraps with no additional transportation costs.

  • Removing food waste from the trash and converting those scraps into clean, renewable energy can save us money.

It Will Be Easy to Participate

  • Residents in participating pilot communities will receive an allotment of free colored-coded bags for the duration of the pilot:

    • 1 green (8-gallon) food scrap bag per week for food scraps

    • 2 orange (15-gallon) tall kitchen bags per week for non-recyclable household trash

  • Recycling of paper & cardboard and bottles & cans will continue as usual.

  • Residents should tie and close each of the orange and green bags and place out for collection each week or bring to their drop-off center for disposal.

  • The food scraps will be captured and converted to green energy.

  • Learn more at the links at the top of the page!