Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program
The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has awarded $5 million in Sustainable Materials Management Grants to help CT municipalities address the state’s waste crisis.
NVCOG Participants: Ansonia, Seymour, & Woodbury
3 NVCOG municipalities (Ansonia, Seymour, & Woodbury) have received grants to pilot trash reduction programs involving (1) special color-coded bags which help “measure” the amount of waste produced through unit-based pricing of trash, and (2) the separation and co-collection of food scraps to be turned into clean energy.
Follow each municipality's SMM progress below:
- Program launched on December 5, 2022.
- More than 7,000 households given the tools to participate in Ansonia’s SMM pilot program.
- Outreach efforts have included an SMM Kickoff Fair at the Ansonia Public Library, a State “What’s In, What’s Out?” Recycling Workshop, Community Champions Dinners, educational tabling at local stores, and digital outreach through social media.
- Grant funds were also used to purchase hundreds of table-top compost bins to be given to residents for free. We have also purchased dozens of environmental children’s books for Ansonia Public Library and local elementary schools.
- Program launched on February 7, 2023.
- Approximately 2,000 transfer station users have been invited to participate.
- Woodbury’s program is unique in that it involves dropping off green bags in a special container at the transfer station rather than curbside pickup. We are already seeing reduced contamination rates compared to curbside communities as a result.
- Outreach efforts have included Community Champions Dinners at the Woodbury Public Library, a Woodbury SMM Kickoff Fair with the help of the Woodbury Conservation Commission and New Morning Market, a State Recycling “What’s In, What’s Out?” Workshop, an Informational Session at the Woodbury Senior Center, and digital outreach through social media.
- Grant funds have also helped to purchase dozens of table-top compost bins as well as environmental education books to help residents learn about and participate in the program.
- Seymour’s program launched on February 13, 2023.
- About 1,000 households on the Monday trash pickup route have been given the tools to participate.
- Outreach efforts have included a virtual SMM informational video, Community Champion Dinners, and digital outreach through social media.
- Grant funds have helped purchase dozens of table-top compost bins to assist residents with participating in the pilot program.
- Community Champions Presentation 2.27.23
Learn how to get involved:
– Learn more about what YOUR municipality is doing to solve CT’s waste crisis.
– If you live in an SMM Grant municipality, be sure to participate in the program. Ask questions and provide feedback. If you live in the community but are outside the project area (ex: live in Woodbury but do not use the transfer station), be sure to let leadership know you want to participate in the future!
– Check out our Waste Crisis Story Map, and read more on the topics of unit-based pricing of trash, food scrap diversion, extended producer responsibility, and the circular economy.
– Volunteer to be a Community Champion by contacting ReduceTheTrash@nvcogct.gov
– Tell your local elected officials that you want action to reduce our trash and increase reducing, reusing, and recycling!
