Attend trash programs

#MiddleburyCT #Trash #PilotProgram

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Trash bags for the food scraps pilot program are clearly labeled. The different colors make sorting easier. (NVCOG-provided photo)

The Town of Middlebury, with support from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), will host two events in September, a kickoff fair for the launch of Middlebury’s Trash Reduction Pilot on Tuesday, September 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. and an informational pizza dinner on the Middlebury Trash Reduction Pilot on Tuesday, September 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. Both events will be held at Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury

Those participating or interested in participating in the trash reduction program are invited to stop by the family-friendly Kickoff Fair, which will serve as a platform to promote awareness and enthusiasm for the pilot program’s eco-conscious mission. The event will feature informative exhibits and an opportunity for participants to engage with waste management experts.

The pilot program, launched on July 1, challenges residents to cut their trash in half. Each participating household is given a year’s supply of free trash bags (orange) and food scrap bags (green). Residents dispose of green food scrap bags in a “food waste” container located at the Transfer Station and dispose of their orange trash bags in the usual dumpster. By using only up to two orange bags and one green bag per week per household, the program aims to reduce trash and divert organics from the waste stream.

The September 19 “Community Champions Dinner” is geared towards pilot participants and stakeholder groups who want to learn more about the program and/or take an active role in promoting it. The event will include a slideshow and relaxed lecture where NVCOG will answer questions. Discussion, and preliminary feedback will inform participants about the Trash Reduction Pilot that started on July 1.

The Town of Middlebury received funding through a Sustainable Materials Management grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct a pilot program for approximately 1,500 households. The SMM Grant Program supports the development of food scrap collection and unit-based pricing pilot programs in Connecticut to assess the feasibility of source separation of food scraps from the waste stream as a potential materials management practice.

Those who haven’t already picked up their initial year’s supply of bags can get them at the Middlebury Transfer Station. A broad base of support for these programs among community organizations across the state shows promise for solving Connecticut’s waste crisis.