The Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) announced a major regional initiative to address the waste crisis in Connecticut. Set to commence this spring, HRRA will launch the âDon’t Throw It, Grow It!â campaign, aimed at providing outreach, technical assistance, and training to businesses and institutions with significant amounts of food waste. Through this program, HRRAâs goals are to help businesses and institutions reduce food waste before it is created, separate organic material from other waste streams, recover or donate food when possible, and find partners to process food scraps through composting and anaerobic digestion.
Food waste accounts for an estimated 22% of CTâs waste stream, amounting to more than one billion pounds per year, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Most of this organic material is incinerated or landfilled at rising economic and environmental costs. CT lawmakers strengthened The Commercial Organics Recycling Law (see CORL below) in 2023 to address this growing challenge, expanding the number of businesses and institutions subject to food scrap separation and composting requirements. While this legislation is an improvement and has gained the attention of some businesses, the state of CT is still lagging on recycling goals, demonstrating that more must be done.
âFor many years, HRRA has supported member municipalities and their residents in addressing CTâs growing waste crisis. As a result of this partnership, our capacity to provide outreach on this important issue has greatly expanded. We now have the resources and experience to provide comprehensive food waste solutions to local businesses in our community, said Jen Heaton-Jones, HRRAâs Executive Director. âThis partnership reflects a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and common-sense solutions that work in the real world.â
Last year, HRRA conducted a competitive bidding process for an organic waste solution provider and selected, Quantum Organics, part of Circular Services, as its partner to tackle food waste. Circular Services was chosen because of its integrated operating platform that combines outreach, education, and training with collection, transportation, and composting, offering an end-to-end solution for communities and businesses.Ìý Business owners will have the opportunity to collaborate directly with the food waste experts at Circular Services to establish a customized food waste reduction program.
âWe commend HRRAâs innovative and forward-thinking approach,â said Brian Paganini, Vice President of Organics at Circular Services. âIt aligns perfectly with the philosophy with which we run our business. Solutions for food waste exist and are ready to scale. We are excited to have this opportunity to bring our solutions to the HRRA region to help businesses and the community.â