Giving Back | contributed by CAROLYN BAYNE and the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability,
photograph by: BAMBI RIEGEL | riegelpictureworks.com
Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability members (from left): Dan Dolcetti, Carolyn Bayne, Mohan Ganadal, Christine LaJaunie, Amanda Craig, Cliff van Voorhees and Kathy Finnegan (Chair)
“Invest in Our Planet” is the theme of Earth Day 2023 and reminds us that in order to protect the planet we all need to be part of the solution. This column, which typically highlights local nonprofit organizations and philanthropy, pivots this month to ask what can you do to give back?
Earthday.org is loaded with suggestions and they are all important. However, this year we ask you to focus on one specific action that will meaningfully impact the thousands of tons of municipal solid waste produced in Darien each year: recycle your food waste during April (and beyond we hope!) through the Food Scrap Challenge.
Why is waste a problem?
Last year Darien trucked 4,800 tons of garbage to the combustion plant in Bridgeport. Burning waste may seem sensible but it is expensive, emits toxins and the process ends with a significant amount of ash sent to landfills. In addition, the state’s infrastructure is aging out; last summer Hartford’s incinerator shut down permanently and the remaining four are decades old and already operate at capacity. Within a year, nearly a million tons of garbage will be sent from Connecticut to out-of-state landfills. This is costly and, more importantly, unsustainable as landfill capacity continues to shrink.
What can you do about it?
Food is one of the largest components of our waste stream, estimated at more than 22 percent (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection). It is also wet and heavy, so incinerators must burn hotter and longer. Recycling food waste significantly reduces the quantity of municipal solid waste and allows that waste to be processed more efficiently. Darien’s solid waste could have been reduced by more than a thousand tons last year if every family had recycled its food waste. That didn’t happen but it could!
How to recycle food waste:
Before recycling, the first step is to reduce food waste. Steps to properly plan, prepare, store and share leftovers can significantly reduce waste. Helpful links are found on the Health Department’s webpage at darienct.gov. Click on “Food Protection Program.” Ways to recycle include:
- Backyard composting: Fruits, vegetables, eggshells and coffee grounds may be composted in your backyard. Get started by visiting portal.ct.gov; type “Home Composting” in the search bar.
- Municipal drop-off program: In October 2018, Darien established a food scrap drop-off at the Recycling Center (aka “the dump”). The program is free but a current annual permit is needed to access the drop-off located near the transfer station building. Starter kits are helpful, though not required, and can be purchased from the Department of Public Works Office, Town Hall ($25). Otherwise, any container can be used to collect and transport scraps to the drop-off.
All food scraps are accepted: fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry (even bones!), fish, dairy products, bread and pasta, rice and grains, chips and snacks, nuts, leftover and spoiled food, coffee grounds, and cut flowers …and they can all go together in one bucket. Food scraps are hauled to a commercial composting facility where they are processed into nutrient-rich compost, or to an anaerobic digester, which converts food scraps into energy. - Private pickup: local services, such as Curbside Compost, will collect food scraps from both residential and commercial locations. Visit curbcompost.org for details and pricing.
Need a “dump” sticker? Here’s how to get one.
All residents, including those with private trash pickup, are encouraged to get a Recycling Center permit (dump sticker) to gain access to numerous additional recycling opportunities. A new permit may be purchased by mail or in person at Town Hall (Department of Public Works). For fees and required documentation, visit darienct.gov or type “Darien Recycling Center” in any browser. Permits expire on June 30th of each year.
The Challenge:
Whether you use the Town’s drop-off program, a private service, or experiment with home composting, our challenge to all Darien residents this Earth Day is to recycle food waste for one month. Last year, 39 tons of food scraps were recycled via the Town’s program. This is good but we can do better!
Why do it:
- Household trash is significantly reduced (and smells better);
- It teaches children that their actions can help their community and the earth;
- It sets an example for other towns and demonstrates that we are willing and able to be part of the solution to the challenging and expensive solid waste problem faced by Darien and the state of Connecticut;
- Current participants report that it is easy and makes them feel good.
There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day; recycling food waste is only one but
it is simple and yields quantifiable results. Please join us in contributing to a more sustainable Darien!
Earth Day Special:
Food Scrap Dropoff at Whole Foods, Darien Don’t have a dump sticker? Not to worry. The Advisory Committee on Sustainability, in partnership with Whole Foods, is sponsoring a food scrap collection on Saturday, April 22, Earth Day, from 9 am to noon. Stop by Whole Foods at 150 Ledge Road in Darien. We’ll have a limited supply of starter kits available for sale ($25, cash or check).
Questions? Email recycle@darienct.gov.
Editor’s Note: Earth Day has been celebrated every April 22nd for more than 50 years to raise awareness about the need to protect the Earth’s natural resources for our children and for future generations. This month, in honor of Earth Day 2023, we have given this column to the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability to inspire everyone in Darien to give back to the environment through the Food Scrap Challenge.
Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability (ACS) members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen to recommend actions to reduce municipal solid waste and increase recycled and repurposed materials in Darien. The ACS also serves as the Town’s Energy Task Force, and assisted the Town in achieving Certification from Sustainable CT in 2019 (Bronze) and 2022 (Silver). Follow Darien Recycling Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for outreach on a range of sustainable issues. Questions? Email recycle@darienct.gov.
