Reminder: 🍃 We're Building a Greener West Hartford

Building a Greener West Hartford: Earth Day and Every Day

As we look beyond Earth Day, it’s a great reminder: every day is an opportunity to build a greener West Hartford.

That’s where the Sustainable West Hartford Commission comes in. You may not have heard of us yet, but we’re here, and we’re working to help our town become more environmentally sustainable.

We’re a volunteer advisory group appointed by the Town Council, and in 2024, we helped West Hartford earn Sustainable CT’s Gold Certification and Climate Leader status. That’s a big deal—and it happened thanks to community-powered efforts.

With four active working groups and more than 45 engaged community members, the Commission deepened public involvement and laid the groundwork for even greater impact. From pollinator gardens to food waste education to clean energy outreach, we’re proving that local actions add up.

In 2025, our focus turns to expanding resident education and engagement to help every household live more sustainably. Because here’s the thing: individual actions matter. What we do—at home, at work, in our neighborhoods—adds up.

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Does anything I do really make a difference?” the answer is yes.

Want to help shape West Hartford’s future? Come to a Commission meeting, join a working group, or follow along online. Your actions make a difference.

Let’s keep the momentum going—one neighbor, one action, one day at a time.

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What Can You Do for a Cooler, Cleaner Planet?

What's the most important action you can take to live more sustainably? The one(s) you'll do! Here are some options to try:

🌱 Compost your food waste instead of trashing it—it makes up a fourth of our waste and creates methane, a dangerous pollutant. Use a backyard compost bin or drop it at one of our new compost stations (more below!).

🐝 Plant for pollinators—native flowers help bees and butterflies thrive. Pollinators are essential to our food supply. Add your property to the Pollinator Pathway.

🌙 Enjoy your outdoor lights—but please turn them off when not in use, especially now during bird migration season. Most birds migrate at night and rely on dark skies to stay on course and survive.

👟 Walk or bike for short trips—cars are Connecticut’s biggest source of greenhouse gas pollution. Follow the Share the Road rules for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers.

🌿 Skip pesticides and fertilizers—they’re harmful to pollinators and water quality from creeks to the ocean.

♻️ Reduce single-use plastics—they’re made from petroleum and pollute land and water. Microplastics even end up in our bodies.

🏡 Make your home more efficient—get a Home Energy Solutions assessment to seal leaks and assess your energy use (more below!).

☀️ Explore renewable energy—solar power could cut your bills and your carbon footprint. Learn about local utility incentives.

🌍 Support or launch a community project with the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund. View and donate to West Hartford projects here, or learn how to start your own.

🛍️ Recycle plastic bags—drop them off at grocery stores, any town library, Public Works front office, or Elmwood Community Center. Keep them out of curbside recycling and out of trash!

🗑️ Pick up litter along your walk—it's a simple way to keep our neighborhoods clean and protect local waterways and wildlife.

📬 Stay connected—follow us on Facebook or join us at a Sustainable West Hartford Commission meeting!

Food Scrap Recycling Begins!

Starting on Earth Day, April 22, West Hartford launched a new, free Food Scrap Recycling Program! Food scraps make up about 24% of household trash. By recycling them, we reduce waste and save—disposal costs for food scraps are about 30% less than trash.

How it works:

Download the free MetroKEY app to access drop-off bins.
Collect your food scraps—including meat, bones, dairy, and spoiled food.
Drop them off anytime at one of four locations:

Town Hall, 50 S Main St. (To the right of main entrance)
Eisenhower Park, 33 Sheep Hill Drive
Norfeldt Field, 1515 Boulevard
Yard Waste & Recycling Center, 25 Brixton Rd (you'll need a permit).

Then open the app at the bin, press the pedal, and drop your scraps—easy!

Check out the list of acceptable and unacceptable items. BPI certified compostable bags and brown paper bags are okay to use. Please, no plastic bags. Food is processed locally by Quantum Biopower in Southington, CT.

Learn more:

🌐 West Hartford Public Works

📧 foodscraps@westhartfordct.gov

📞 Katherine Bruns, Recycling Coordinator: 860-561-8107

Take Action: Let’s Save Energy, Money, and the Planet—Together

The cleanest and most affordable energy is the energy we don’t use. In our homes, we rely on energy to heat and cool our spaces and power everyday appliances like dishwashers, dryers, modems, and dehumidifiers. But there are simple ways to use less energy—and save money at the same time.

One great opportunity is Home Energy Solutions, a program that offers a professional energy assessment of your home. For just $75, a technician will:

Conduct a health and safety check
Seal air leaks
Provide a detailed report outlining cost-effective upgrades to boost energy efficiency.

For income-eligible households (at or below 60% of the state median income), the service is provided at no cost to the customer, and many recommended upgrades are also included at no cost.

👉 385 West Hartford households took advantage of this program last year—join them! To get started, call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) or visit:

energizect.com/energy-evaluations/HES

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