May 2018
E-newsletter highlighting grant deadlines, upcoming workshops and available resources for municipal recycling and solid waste leaders.
CT is Facing a Waste Crisis

CT residents and businesses continue to generate the same amount of trash which is costly and irresponsible. Capacity for managing trash at Waste-to- Energy (WTE) facilities is diminishing. 

CT's Waste-To-Energy capacity
is decreasing

  • In 2015, Covanta, a WTE facility in Wallingford closed;
  • Future of Mid-Conn in Hartford is uncertain;
  • All CT WTEs are aging; and
  • More and more product packaging is changing AND we are increasing the use of single-use items, most of which are no acceptable in the mixed recycling program.


Reduced capacity leads to increased disposal (or tipping) costs per ton of trash disposed.  Strained municipal budgets are put under even more pressure due to the rising costs of trash disposal.


  • Trash collection costs - RISING
  • Recycling collection costs - RISING
  • Trash disposal costs (per ton) - RISING
  • Rebate for recyclables (per ton) - small & DECLINING (if even exist anymore)
All of these costs factors point toward a continuous growth in municipal public works budgets to manage trash & recyclables.
Waste reduction is solution to help balance municipal budgets
  • 60% statewide diversion goal by 2024
  • Waste reduction is a key action item of the Comprehensive Materials Management Strategy which calls for Municipalities to implement a waste reduction initiative designed to reduce total waste by 10% by December 2018
  • DEEP recommends Save Money and Reduce Trash (SMART) programs as most effective strategy


Strategies

More education helps participation
Research shows that education will complement other materials management initiatives and increase recycling participation
  • Check out resources: RecycleCT.com
  • Education alone will not result in significant reduction in waste

Reducing waste is the solution
SMART pricings systems are the #1 strategy to achieve significant statewide increases in recycling and decreases in disposal
  • Financially prudent - saves municipalities money through avoided disposal costs
  • Environmentally responsible – reduces waste and increases recycling
C T Programs in the News
  State Fines Trash Operator $18,700 (New Haven Independent, April 24)
Recycle Those Bags (The Day, April 23)
Small changes lead to big, green impact at Palmer’s (New Canaan Advertiser, April 19)
Film aims to change attitudes toward food (Greenwich Time, April 2)
     Upcoming Events:

Thursday, June 7, 2018  - 2pm - Effective Recycling Education, free webinar . The purpose of this webinar is to provide insights into campaigns to educate the public about what is recyclable and what is not. The presenters will focus on the impacts of projects in a variety of municipalities, including those with multi-lingual populations. Presenters include Cindy Jolicoeur, Charlotte Ueta and Sherill Baldwin. Hosted by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) and the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA).

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 - 9:30-11:30am - Solid Waste Advisory Committing meeting. McCarthy Auditorium, CT DEEP, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Upcoming and past agendas and presentations
Have an idea or topic for future municipal recycling conference call/webinar? Let us know what you and your colleagues would like to learn more about. Contact Sherill Baldwin .
CT DEEP | Source Reduction & Recycling Group | 860-424-4193 | www.ct.gov/deep/recycle