Food scraps are one of the largest components of trash sent to landfills and incinerators. But Greenwich residents can now send their food scraps to be recycled. The town has officially begin offering a new food scrap recycling program. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held at the Holly Hill transfer station to celebrate.
Julie DesChamps, founder of Waste Free Greenwich, was there with First Selectman Fred Camillo to celebrate as Greenwich joined a growing list of more-stainable green communities. “With the opening of the food scrap recycling program, Greenwich has taken another step toward the goal of becoming the most environmentally friendly and forward thinking town in the state, and to continue our commitment to a waste-free society,” Camillo said.
Participation in the pilot program is voluntary and open to all Greenwich residents with a permit to dump trash at the Holly Hill facility. In the program, residents are encouraged to collect their food scraps at home and then take them to the designated drop-off location next to the Holly Hill trash building. The material will then be taken to a commercial composting facility and turned into nutrient rich compost.
The town will accept meat and dairy products, tea bags, cut flowers, paper towels and napkins under the program. The program is launching under a partnership of the town, Waste Free Greenwich, the Greenwich Recycling Board and Greenwich Green and Clean. According to the Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board, food scraps account for over 22 percent of municipal solid waste in the state. “Food scraps are a valuable resource that should be removed from the waste stream,” said Sally Davies, chair of the advisory board. “Why should we pay to throw this away?”
