Connecticut

Disposal Methods

During the 2008 fiscal year, 3,401,085 tons of solid waste were collected and disposed of in the state of Connecticut. From this total, only 163,543 tons [Page 146](4.81 percent) were deposited in local landfills. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection burned 62.06 percent, or 2,110,855 tons of trash. Of this portion, 544,709 tons of ash were deposited in landfills, and 48,070 tons of metal were recycled. Nearly 8 percent (261,255 tons) of the waste produced and collected in Connecticut was disposed out of state, and only about 25.45 percent (865,432 tons) was recycled. In comparison, according to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report issued in November 2009, the national recycling rate—the amount of trash generated divided by the volume of material recycled and composted—is slightly over 33 percent. This apparent underperformance is surprising, since recycling is mandatory in the state of Connecticut. In accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes and the Regulations of the Connecticut State Agencies, items to be recycled include glass and metal food and beverage containers, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, white office paper, scrap metal, and waste oil, among other items. This means that residents, all public and private institutions, as well as every business including nonprofits are required to recycle. In addition, some municipalities have established ordinances that specify the recycling of other items, such as old magazines and junk mail. In fact, under state law, garbage haulers must report individuals who do not separate their trash or put out their locally provided recycling bins. The total amount of garbage for Connecticut's disposal statistics does not, however, include bottle deposits or the amount of auto scrap metal and storage batteries recycled annually.

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