A ribbon cutting for new Smart Bins to collect organics (food scraps) from residents was conducted on Tuesday, January 6, at the Community Center, marking the bins entering into service for the community.

These secure, app-accessed bins allow residents to drop off food scraps 24/7, helping to keep this resource out of the trash, diverting it from landfills and waste-to-energy plants, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By participating, residents contribute to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable community.

Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority Director Jennifer Heaton Jones said that the bins were part of building more convenient access for residents to get rid of food waste. The Smart Bins will be open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, even when the transfer station is closed. The bins are conveniently located around town for easy access.

Only organic matter can be deposited, and there must not be any plastic, stickers, rubber bands, twist ties, or the like (with the exceptions of the compostable bags, which are designed to decompose). Contaminated material cannot be processed into compost. It will be disposed of as MSW and sent to a waste-to-energy plant, which adds cost to the program.

Acceptable items include houseplants and cut flowers, flower and vegetable garden clippings, fruits and nuts (including pits), vegetables, breads, pastas and grains, sauces, soups and gravy, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, eggshells, meats (including bones), dairy products, fish and shellfish, plate scrapings, spoiled food, and fridge leftovers.

Heaton Jones thanked residents for attending, and the support of Newtown’s leaders for helping find solutions.

“This helps residents to properly dispose of material that should be considered a resource, not waste,” said Heaton Jones.

Heaton Jones noted that the state is facing a waste crisis, saying the state generates 3.5 million tons of waste per year but only has capacity for 2.7 million tons. Almost 1 million tons is transported to Pennsylvania and Ohio to dispose of it.

“It’s not sustainable or a long-term solution,” said Heaton Jones.

Heaton Jones said organic waste like food scraps are heavy materials and removing them will assist the state a lot with the crisis.

Department of Public Works Director Fred Hurley noted that HRRA was originally founded by Bridgeport and Newtown in the 1970s. It grew to 14 towns and is the leading resource recovery agency in the state.

“The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection looks to this agency for solutions to problems around the state,” said Hurley.

Hurley said the town started a “modest food scraps program 15 years ago,” sending waste to New Milford, and it has evolved to processing here in town.

First Selectman Bruce Walczak said that “little steps become big steps.”

Food scrap composting is “another little step,” with the bins encouraging people to start composting, and it can grow from there “and become part of the solution.”

“The waste crisis can’t be solved by turning a key,” said Walczak. “It is involved with lots of little steps.”

Economic and Community Development Director John Voket said Newtown is the community state agencies and other municipalities look to when they want to get food scrap recycling done right.

“As the first town in Connecticut to engage in a successful food scrap recycling program, it’s only logical that we continue to lead when it comes to making this critical recycling component easier and unbelievably engaging,” Voket said. “By downloading and using the MetroKEY app, everyone in Newtown can now participate in food scrap recycling at their own pace and comfort level.

“And the convenient locations of our four community Smart Bins means no more runs to the transfer station to help reduce the need to truck our food scraps to out-of-state landfills. By everyone getting involved we’ll be reducing carbon emissions involved with transporting, and increasing our in-town processing which incidentally provides participating residents with free mulch to go along with feeling good about recycling,” he added.

For more details on the program, including how to sign up, download the app, and participate, visit hrra.org/food-scraps-dropoff-locations.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.