STONINTON — A selection committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to allow first select woman Danielle Cheesebrough to sign a $500,000 grant contract to start a one-year food waste disposal pilot program. approved.
A $552,000 sustainable materials management grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will be paid to start a curbside food scrap pilot program in the town.
Each household that chooses to participate will receive 52 green bags and a lidded 4-gallon food waste bucket free of charge as part of the program, said Jill Sr., director of solid waste and recycling. says.
Chesebrough estimates that between the town’s current recycling program and the pilot program, household waste can be reduced by 70 to 80 percent.
The town also participates in a textile recycling program and a paid garbage disposal program.
Under the Pay for What You Throw program, residents buy yellow trash bags from local businesses, such as grocery stores and gas stations, or from City Hall. The cost of collection and disposal is built into the price of the bag, which serves as a resident contribution to the program. A box of 5 bags of 15 gallons is available for $4.25 and a bag of 5 bags of 34 gallons is $7.50.
According to the town’s website, the program reduces disposal costs by 45-60% and acts as an incentive for residents to recycle more.
Sr. said on Thursday that the ‘pay as you throw’ program diverts between 1,100 and 1,400 tonnes of waste each year, averaging 389 pounds of waste per household. The statewide average per household is £740 for him.
Chesebrough said the new program would not only save taxpayers overall money, but it would also save individuals because “the heaviest, bulkiest and largest part of the yellow bag is food.” rice field.
Senior added that the food waste pilot program can reduce household waste by up to 6 pounds per week.
“I am very grateful to our solid waste team,” said Chesebrough, adding that the program would not have been possible without John Phetteplace, former Director of Solid Waste and Recycling and Sr.
After the vote, the deal was signed on Wednesday.
Chesebrough said the grant would give the town a year to get the program up and running, demonstrate that it works, and serve as a pilot for the state. She further said the Southern Connecticut Regional Restoration Authority is currently looking for local sites for composting.
“They are working hard to find it and hopefully they will find it in our area. will be,” she said, explaining that a large portion of the program’s costs are spent transporting food waste.
Sr. said transportation of waste to Southington’s Quantum BioPower facility will be handled by FE Crandall Disposal, the town’s solid waste contractor, at a cost of $84,000 a year. Transportation expenses are covered by subsidies.
According to Quantum’s website, the facility will turn food waste into energy through a process that accelerates the breakdown of organic matter, releasing methane as a by-product, which is then turned into energy. Leftover materials are used to make products such as compost, fertilizer, and soil.
Select Woman’s Deborah Downey said she was working to get schools involved in the program, saying, “This is so exciting. We’ve been waiting for this.”
