The Town of Newtown announced the launch of new Smart Bins to collect organics (food scraps) from residents. These bins are a cutting-edge solution to make food scrap recycling easier and more convenient for residents.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 pm Tuesday, January 6, at Newtown Senior Center to celebrate this important step toward sustainability.

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 reduce 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.

“These are to help address the waste crisis in the state,” said Heaton Jones. “Food waste is a large part of the waste stream. These are here to help support Newtown residents.”

How to participate in two easy steps: Download the “MetroKEY” phone app on a smartphone. Once a residency has been verified, the app will be activated and the user will be able to bring food scraps to any of the designated Smart Bins.

Smart Bin locations in Newtown include Newtown Senior Center, Dodgingtown Fire Department, Hawleyville Fire Department, and Sandy Hook Substation Fire House.

The metroSTOR containers are designed for convenience and security. Residents unlock the bins using the MetroKEY phone app, and the bins feature rodent-resistant enclosures and hands-free foot-pedal lids for easy use. This technology is already proving successful in other Connecticut communities.

“Newtown is proud to join these forward-thinking towns in making food scrap recycling accessible and convenient for everyone,” said First Selectman Bruce Walczak.

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.

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.