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 35 neighboring communities, leaving them without a disposal site.

• This loss of trash disposal capacity is significantly affecting Stonington.

• Siting a new incinerator or landfill in our Town is not a good option.

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

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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 Collection would allow residents to conveniently recycle their food scraps.

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

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Stonington is Being Proactive

• Stonington received a $550,000 dollar grant from DEEP to implement a Town-wide pilot program.

• The food scraps collection pilot program is free to residents.

• All households will collect food scraps in special green bags provided by the Town.

• A permanent program has an environmental impact equal to adding 2,743 solar panels to Stonington homes each year.

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It Will Be Easy to Participate

• Residents will receive free green food scrap bags, one for each week for the duration of the pilot.

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

• Residents should tie and close the green bags and place out for collection each week, along with your yellow trash bags

• The food scrap bags will be collected and brought to a facility so that the food scraps can be captured and converted to green energy.

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