New Canaan to recycle food scraps

The scraps left over after leftovers are finished can now be repurposed.

In hopes of reducing waste in landfills while helping contribute to robust planting material, the New Canaan transfer station is taking food scraps.

Alarge new sign spelling out what foods are accepted and a row of four pails to take food scrap donations have been placed at the southern end of the platform where residents leave their recycling and garbage.

“The point of the Food Scrap Recycling program is to divert food scraps from our municipal waste stream,” Planet New Canaan leader Robin Bates-Mason said.

“We think it is a worthy program, not solely based on financial results, but also based on the fact that we are hoping it increases awareness surrounding use and recycling of all materials,” Director of Public Works Tiger Mann said.

As much as 24 percent of the trash that ends up in landfills is food, according to the Environmental Protection Agency website.

“Rather than going into landfill or more likely sent to the incinerator in Bridgeport, organic material can be used and turned into a beneficial soil amendment,” Bates-Mason, who is also a town councilman, said.

“Gardeners and farmers add compost to soil to improve its physical properties. They may even use compost instead of soil to grow plants,” according to the EPA.

Foods and material accepted include meat, bones, fruits, vegetables, dairy, coffee grinds, eggshells, vegetable oils, shells from shellfish and certified compostable pail liners.

Non-food items, no matter how small, should be left out, such as produce stickers, strings and labels on teas bags, K cups and twist ties.

Larger non-food items that should not be included are produce bags, plastic bags, pet waste, beverage containers, compostable containers, disposable silverware, paper towels, napkins and plastic containers.

“We want to make sure that residents are aware that any sort of plastic is not permitted, so say for instance if a cucumber is wrapped in plastic” the “plastic must be removed,” Bates-Mason, said.