Starting Thursday, July 9, the Town of Greenwich will expand the municipal Scraps to Soil program with the addition of smart units at Binney Park and Cos Cob Park, an innovative solution to make food scrap recycling easier and more convenient for residents.
Waste Free Greenwich’s Julie DesChamps and Greenwich Assistant Director of Environmental Affairs, Sarah Coccaro. Contributed photo
The secure, app-accessed smart units allow residents to drop off food scraps 24/7, keeping this valuable resource out of the trash and diverting it from incineration to nutrient rich compost. Food scraps are the most significant component in Greenwich’s waste stream, accounting for over 22% of trash. By participating in this free, voluntary program, residents help reduce waste, prevent pollution and create a more sustainable community.
Registered residents will utilize an app to unlock the enclosed, secure collection units, ensuring less contamination and greater convenience and security. The bins feature hands-free access using a foot pedal and pest-resistant, stainless-steel enclosures for easy use and cleanliness.
“Greenwich is proud to make food scrap recycling more accessible for residents,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said in a press release from the Conservation Commission. “Expanding the Scraps to Soil program with new smart bins underscores our Town’s commitment to sustainability, and we are grateful to see it grow over the past few years thanks to our wonderful volunteers.”
Funding for the smart bins was provided by the Materials Management
Infrastructure Grant program administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Competition for the grant was strong, with 20 applications submitted requesting approximately $30 million in funding, and Greenwich was one of only nine applicants to receive an award.
Since its inception in June 2020, the Scraps to Soil drop-off program has diverted over 780,000 pounds, or 390 tons, of organic material. According to ReFED’s Impact Calculator, Greenwich’s emissions have been reduced by 1,420.24 metric tons of CO2e, equivalent to 3.61 million miles driven by an average gas-powered passenger vehicle, or almost 145 times around the globe.
Ready to turn your scraps into soil? For program details and to find out when the team will be onsite to walk you through the new smart bins, visit www.WasteFreeGreenwich.org/compost.