January 2021
E-newsletter highlighting grant deadlines, upcoming workshops and available resources for municipal recycling and solid waste leaders.
Doing Business with DEEP during the COVID-19 Pandemic

DEEP is continuing to carry out its mission and provide services while keeping both the public and our workforce safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on link for the latest updates on DEEP's COVID-19 Response.

Find more information on the Materials Management Response to COVID-19 webpage
For the latest information and guidance, visit ct.gov/coronavirus
Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management
(CCSMM)

Since September 2020, DEEP and many municipalities from across the state came together to form the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM) to explore ways to reduce the amount of waste that is generated in our state, improve reuse, recycling, organics collection, and other innovative solutions.
 
The final full coalition meeting (previously scheduled on Jan. 5, 2021) is scheduled on January 11, 2021, 10:00am-12:00pm.

If you have already registered for the meeting, your current registration will carry over to the new date. If you have not yet registered for the next full coalition meeting, you can do so HERE.
 
Thank you to everyone who continues to participate in these important conversations.
CCSMM Working Groups

As part of the CCSMM Initiative, four Working Groups have been established to focus on specific areas of interest. Presentations and materials from the Working Group meetings can be found on each specific Working Group page:

State Environment Commissioner
Katie Dykes On Connecticut's Looming Waste Crisis
DEC 14, 2020

Hear the interview on Where We Live

For years, Connecticut sent large portions of waste to the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) trash-to-energy plant in Hartford. This, in spite of protests by Hartford residents, who say pollution from the plant has caused health problems. Now, the plant will close in 2022.
Today, we talk with Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes about the state's garbage.

The commissioner has said the state is facing a “waste crisis” in coming years. So what’s the solution?

We also ask her about the state’s energy future, including the role of fossil fuels like natural gas that the state currently relies on to keep the lights on.

GUESTS:
  • Katie Dykes - Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
  • Sharon Lewis - Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
  • Adrian Huq - Cofounder of the New Haven Climate Movement's Youth Action Team
Recycling Economic Information Study completed

Thank you to all municipalities, haulers and processors and local end markets that responded to surveys and questions from representatives of Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) who were awarded the contract from RecycleCT to conduct an Recycling Economic Information (REI) study.

RecycleCT's REI study will focused on the economic impacts of residential recycling in the state of Connecticut - including the residential recycling programs (curbside and transfer stations), the bottle bill program, and the three stewardship programs that are primarily residential (paint, mattresses and electronics).

Representatives from RRS will present their findings at the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting on January 26, 9:30-11:30. Outputs from the study will be posted on the RecycleCT.com webpage soon.

For the upcoming SWAC meeting Register here.
RECYCLECT WIZARD - Search Tool

Want to help residents search for what's IN and what should stay out fo the recycling bin?

Consider embedding the RecycleCT wizard on your website! It’s a great resource for your residents, customers and community.

For more information on how to add the RecycleCT wizard on your site, please email Sherill Baldwin.
Additional Resources
Northeast Recycling Council (NERC):

Buy Recycled Fact Sheet &
Resource List
In preparation for the upcoming buy recycled training webinar hosted by NERC on January 13, the presenter - Richard Keller - has provided us with two new resources:
Link to webinar below - Upcoming Events

Updated "Blue Bin" End-Markets in NERC Region


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Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN):

Case Study: Reusable Dishware on Campus During COVID-19
For an in-depth look at how a campus is safely using reusable dishware and takeout containers during the pandemic, check out the Post-Landfill Action Network Case Study or
Read blog, 9/9/2020.

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Iowa Food Waste Resources

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Center for EcoTechnology (CET):


Spotlights from New Haven: Social Media Toolkit includes a few ready-to-share social media posts and a short blurb that can be adapted.


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U.S. EPA:

Waste Reduction Model (WARM)
Version 15
updated November 2020

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MassDEP:

New and Improved Contracting Templates
Best Practices: Contracting for Recycling Collection and Processing, for Massachusetts municipalities and public sector representatives, December 2020


Missed recent webinars?
RECORDINGS

CT Compost Conference Webinar Series
Partnership of CRC&D, CT NOFA, CT DEEP
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Waste Management and Recycling Training Series
Hosted by CCM & HRRA
Part 5: Financial Implications, November 19, 2020
Part 3: The Burden of Collection and Disposal, October 15, 2020
Part 1: Trash 101: What Waste Problem? September 10, 2020
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Hosted by MassDEP
 MassDEP YouTube playlist:
2020 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-palooza! to see the recordings of each webinar.

Waste Reduction and Why it Matters, November 16, 2020
Buy Smart! Buy Recycled, November 17, 2020
Optimizing Our Recycling Education & Outreach Efforts, November 19, 2020 
Implementing Effective School Recycling Programs, November 23, 2020
All resources from the School Recycling Programs webinar can be found on this page: 
Look for the section titled “School Recycling Guidance & Resources.”
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ReFED, Inc.
Archived Municipal Recycling Coordinators E-News and Webinars

Missed the last newsletter on product stewardship or a recent webinar?
Look for archived webinars and e-newsletters on the CT DEEP webpage.
What's IN? What's OUT?

In response to your requests, the What's IN, What's OUT program created and promoted social media posts about the issues of litter.

These and all other materials at RecycleCT.com re available for all municipalities, haulers and others to use to promote recycling in Connecticut. Find them at: www.RecycleCT.com/social

Reduce spreading germs this new year. Put used wipes in the trash. See #WhatsInWhatsOut at RecycleCT.com.
Spread cheer, not germs this holiday season. Disposable masks, gloves and wipes go in the trash - not the bin. Learn #WhatsInWhatsOut at RecycleCT.com.
Wear your disposable mask then toss it in the trash.
Spread the word, not germs.
 Upcoming Events: 

Monday, January 11, 2021 - 10:00am - 12:00pm - CT Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management - full coalition meeting. Register here. Hosted by DEEP.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Alternative Recycling Technologies & Products with Post-consumer Resin Register here. Hosted by NERC.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Buying Recycled - A Training Register here. Hosted by NERC.

January 19, 21 and 25, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm - 2021 Environmental Summit For more information. Hosted by CTLCV.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - 10:00am - 12:30pm - Shrink Wrap Recycling Summit. Register here. Hosted by Clean Ocean Access.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Depackaging & Commercial Composting - An Integrated System for Organics Register here. Hosted by NERC.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 - 9:30am - 11:30am - Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting. Register here. Hosted by CT DEEP.

January 26 & 27, 2021 - Virtual Compost 2021 - US Composting Council Conference & Tradeshow. For more information. Hosted by the US Composting Council.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Driving Recycling Markets - Introduction to the Government Recycling Demand Champion Program Register here. Hosted by NERC.

Thursday, January 28, 2021 - 12:00pm - 4:00pm - 2021 CT Recycling Conference For more information here. Hosted by CT Recyclers Coalition.

Thursday, January 28, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Recycling Markets in 2021 Register here. Hosted by NERC.

Friday, January 29, 2021 - 8:30am - 12:00pm - EBC 15th Annual Construction and Demolition Materials Management Regional Summit. For more information. Hosted by the Environmental Business Council New England.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 - 1:00pm - ReFED Insights Engine and Roadmap to 2020 webinar, introducing new food waste resources. Register here. Hosted by ReFED.

February 3, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm - Strategies for Collecting Residential Food Waste Register here. Hosted by NERC.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request an accommodation contact us at (860) 418-5910 or [email protected].
CT DEEP | Source Reduction & Recycling Group | 860-424-4193 | www.ct.gov/deep/recycle