NEW Town of Weston
Why is reducing trash so critical right now? Connecticut is in a waste crisis. Residents are generating more garbage than there is capacity to dispose of it. Recycling food waste and organics for composting and thus diverting these materials from the waste stream is a very important step in managing Connecticut’s waste crisis. Weston is offering food scraps recycling as a means for residents to join the challenge and make a difference.
In Connecticut, food scraps make up about one of every five pounds of garbage, according to a 2015 study published by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. More food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in our everyday trash. Recycling food waste and organics reduces the waste going to out of state landfills. Furthermore, food waste and other organic materials from the trash should be thought of as a resource – when properly recycled they can produce compost. Compost added to gardens, construction sites, and poor soils makes great things happen!
JOIN THE CHALLENGE!
We hope that you will consider joining us in the effort to prevent food waste from entering the conventional waste stream and promote a sustainable environment! Whether you do your own backyard composting, use an organics hauler or sign up to use Weston’s NEW Food Scraps Recycling Program, you are consciously choosing to be part of the solution.
Want to join the program?
Are you interested in separating your food scraps from your trash so it can be made into compost, but don’t want to do it in your back yard nor pay for a curbside organics hauler? Here’s everything you need to know to participate in the Weston food scraps recycling program. Click on the topics to the right for more information.
Residents who are signed up and participating in the program will be able to pick up organic compost in the spring at the Weston Transfer Station (one five-gallon bucket per participant while supplies last). If you are signed up for the program, you will receive a notification of the compost giveback dates and times.
How does the program work and what does it cost?
The Town of Weston is providing residents the opportunity to reduce their waste and recycle their food scraps through this food scraps recycling program located at the town’s Transfer Station. As with mixed, glass, mattress, or redeemable recycling, there is no cost to use the Food Scraps Recycling program for Weston residents. Residents simply collect their food scraps in a designated counter collection bin or bucket and then tip their container into the Curbside Compost bins located next to the red mattress recycling container at the Transfer Station, located at 237 Godfrey Road East, during regular operating hours.
There is NO FEE to participate in the Weston Food Scrap Recycling Program.
You must also have an annual transfer station permit as a PERMIT IS REQUIRED to enter the Transfer Station. Permits are mailed to every Weston resident with their July tax bill.
It is very important that participants bring ONLY acceptable items. The full list of acceptable items is in the next drop-down menu.
IMPORTANT – Please DO NOT contaminate the compost. Remove plastic ties, stickers, twist ties and DO NOT use plastic bags. It’s important to note that contaminated material cannot be processed into compost. It will be disposed of as MSW (Municipal Solid Waste aka trash) and sent to a waste-to-energy plant, which adds cost to the program.
Please take notice that the material you drop off may be examined for contamination by the transfer station attendant. If the attendant believes you are repeatedly violating the rules of acceptable material, you risk being banned from the program. The success of the program is dependent on participants being mindful and bringing only acceptable material.
Compost will be available to residents in the Spring. f you are signed up for the program, you will receive a notification of the compost giveback dates and times.
Acceptable waste items
REMEMBER – ONLY the items listed below are allowed in your bin.
No PLASTIC items, stickers, rubber bands, twist ties or “compostable” cups/cutlery/plates!
- Houseplants & Flower Bouquets
- Fruits & Nuts (including pits)
- Vegetables ***Remove stickers, bands and ties***
- Bread, Pasta & Grains
- Sauces, Soup & Gravy
- Coffee Grounds & Filters
- Tea Bags
- Egg Shells
- Meats & Poultry (including bones)
- Fish & Shellfish
- Plate Scrapings
- Spoiled food
- Fridge Leftovers
Can I add items that say "compostable"?
For the success of our program we are asking residents to stick to our published list of acceptable items (see above). Even though companies can label and market their products (paper towels, cups, food containers and bags) as “compostable” or “compostable in a commercial facility” they may not actually be compostable or accepted by the composting facility. For these reasons and more, please leave them out of the program.
Collection Container
Using or purchasing our starter kit is optional and offered for your convenience. It is not mandatory to participate. You may collect your food scraps in your own carry container such as a 5-gallon pail.
The starter kit consists of a 1.5 gallon kitchen bin, one roll of BPI certified bio bag liners (25 count) and a 6-gallon Eco-Caddy with lock lid. Payment can be made at the Transfer Station by credit card and the cost is $20.
Additional BPI certified compostable bin liners are available for purchase at the Transfer Station for $2/roll.
Why should I compost?
The study found that composting organic waste versus landfilling it can reduce more than 50% of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, for a total of 2.1 gigatons between now (2020) and 2050 if climate change is curbed to a 2 degree Celsius rise in the average global temperature. However the emission savings from landfill diversion is only one benefit of composting. Click Here to read more about the study
Separating your food scraps for compost is easy and provides many benefits, some of which are listed below:
- Since food waste on average makes up 24% of the waste stream and is often the heaviest material in your trash, reducing the weight by composting will also save you money.
- Compost is beneficial to the environment. It is a unique soil amendment because of its ability to hold moisture and soluble minerals.
Composted organics are beneficial, because they:
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- Maximize plant growth.
- Effective at preventing soil erosion.
- Aid in Stream and land reclamation.
- Reconstruction of wetlands.
- Help with storm water management.
- Reduces the need for fertilizers.
- Reduces the need for pesticides.
- Improves the over all health of soil.
Resources
Using compostable bags
The compostable bags provided are for your convenience and are meant to help eliminate the yuck factor. You do not have to use the compostable bags and we welcome individuals who wish to use just their containers to collect waste.
If you do choose to use compostable bags, you are required to use only bags approved by the program. At this time Biobags are the only approved and certified compostable bags we will accept. If you wish to purchase your own supply you can find them online from many retailers.
BPI certified compostable bin liners will also be available for purchase at the Transfer Station for $2/roll.
PLEASE NOTE, compostable bags are meant to break down. They do have a shelf life. We do not recommend buying in bulk unless you are planning to share and or use them within their recommended shelf life which is approximately one year.