Chris Nelson, CT DEEP, discusses Connecticut's efforts to increase waste diversion. Source-separated organics, EPR, and more.

1. Connecticut Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection

2. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Waste Transformation in CT
April 8, 2014
Chris Nelson, CT DEEP
MassRecycle R3 Conference

3. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Recent Waste Transformation Processes
• Materials Management Summit Series (2012)
• Governor’s Working Group to Modernize
Recycling (2012)
• Resource Recovery Task Force (2013)
• Operational Review of Connecticut Resource
Recovery Authority (CRRA) (2013)
• New laws: P.A. 13-285, currently proposed S.B.
27 and more…

4. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Waste Transformation Priorities
• Increase Recycling and Diversion through Market-Based Strategies
and Innovation to recover more value from discards
• Ensure that non-recycled waste is managed sustainably to protect the
environment, achieve economic sustainability, and control energy
costs
– Waste-to-energy to remain a viable option during transition to a modernized
infrastructure that better helps the state reach higher diversion targets
Source
Reduction
& Reuse
Recycling
Composting
and
Organics
Recycling
Energy
Recovery
Landfill &
Incineration
Greater Environmental
Benefits
(e.g., GHG reductions)
& Economic Benefits
(e.g., jobs)
Fewer Environmental
Benefits
& Economic Benefits

5. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Sustainability Comparisons
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
RI
U.S.A.
VT
OR
PA
NY
United Kingdom
CA
MA
ME
CT
Denmark
Sweden
Netherlands
Germany
% Recycled % Composted % Waste-to-Energy % Landfilled
Sustainable Waste Management Ladder
(2008 data from Earth Eng. Center, Columbia U)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
RI
NY
U.S.A.
CT
VT
ME
PA
MA
United Kingdom
OR
Denmark
Sweden
CA
Netherlands
Germany
Sustainable Waste Management Ladder
(2008 data from Earth Eng. Center, Columbia U)
% Recycled % Composted % Waste-to-Energy % Landfilled

6. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
CT List of Designated Recyclables
• Glass food containers; metal food containers
• Scrap metal
• High grade white office paper (non-residential)
• Old corrugated cardboard
• Old newspapers
• Waste oil
• Leaves
• Lead-acid storage batteries
• Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries
• Grass
• Covered electronic devices
• PET (#1 plastic) and HDPE (#2 plastic) containers
• Boxboard (e.g., cereal boxes)
• Magazines
• Residential High Grade White Paper
• High Grade Colored Paper (Colored Ledger )

7. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
A Few Transformation Strategies
• Incentivize recycling of organics (anaerobic
digestion and composting)
• Continued utilization of Product Stewardship /
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
approaches
• Encourage municipalities to adopt unit-based
pricing systems to provide proper economic
signals to generators (e.g., residents)

8. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
What is Still in Connecticut’s Trash?

9. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
What is Still in Connecticut’s Trash?
Compostable Materials By Weight
Overall Statewide Disposed
Source: CT Statewide Solid Waste Composition and
Characterization Study Final Report 2009 – Table 6
Material Est. Percent Est. Tons
Food Waste 13.5% 321,481
Compostable Paper 8.2% 195,185
Leaves & Grass 7.2% 172,408
Prunings & Trimmings 2.2% 51,550
Branches & Stumps 0.4% 10,149
Total 31.5% 750,773

10. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
CGS 22a-226e as amended by P.A. 13-285
Recycling of source-separated organic materials.
• (a)(1) On and after January 1, 2014, each commercial food
wholesaler or distributor, industrial food manufacturer or
processor, supermarket, resort or conference center that is located
not more than twenty miles from an authorized source-separated
organic material composting facility and that generates an average
projected volume of not less than one hundred four tons per year
of source-separated organic materials shall: (A) Separate such
source-separated organic materials from other solid waste; and (B)
ensure that such source-separated organic materials are recycled at
any authorized source-separated organic material composting
facility that has available capacity and that will accept such source-
separated organic material.

12. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Organics Infrastructure Being Developed…
• Three composting facilities in the state currently permitted to take food
scrap - Harvest New England (Ellington), New Milford Farms (New Milford),
New England Compost (Danbury)
• Permit application just received for another composting facility in South
Windsor (Nutmeg Road Composting)
• Permit application in house for an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in
Southington (Supreme/Quantum)
• Permit application for another AD facility in central CT expected soon
(Turning Earth/Covanta partnership)
• Other AD facilities discussed for Ansonia, Bridgeport and SE CT
• Bridgewater, CT launching a pilot program for curbside collection of food
scrap
• Other businesses providing services for food scrap collection & delivery to
permitted facilities

13. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
CT Product Stewardship (PS) Initiatives
• Programs already established in CT for:
– Electronics (E-Waste)
– Mercury Thermostats
– Paint
– Mattresses
• Hosting initial regional conversations on:
– Carpeting (May 14-15, 2014)
– Batteries (June 11-12, 2014)
• CT also starting to do some initial review of packaging
PS programs

14. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Unit-Based Pricing (UBP) & Muni Grants
Recognizing that UBP for MSW results in higher
diversion rates, CT DEEP continues to promote.
• In 2013, released RFP for grants for municipalities
that implement a new or enhance an existing UBP
program for residential MSW
• In 2014, issue new RFP(s) for broader UBP
program(s)?
• In 2014, establish grant program for larger cities?

15. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
2014 Proposed Legislation
Governor’s S.B. No. 27 (An Act Concerning CT’s Recycling and
Materials Management Strategy) proposes to:
• Establish the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) as a
successor authority to CRRA
• Sets a 60% diversion rate by 2024
• Establish Recycle CT Foundation, Inc. to “target and promote the
coordination and support of research and education activities and public
information programs aimed at increasing the rate of recycling and reuse
in the state”
• Issue RFP to revamp current RDF technology at Mid-Conn waste-to-energy
facility in Hartford
• Creates a mechanism for the state to purchase electricity sourced from
Waste-to-Energy facilities, providing the potential of a stable source of
revenue for operators

16. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Some upcoming tasks
• Complete updated Waste Characterization
analysis to see what is still in the trash (MSW
and Construction & Demolition waste)
• Update Solid Waste Management Plan (last
revised in 2006)

17. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Questions?
Chris Nelson
CT DEEP
Sustainable Materials Management Program
chris.nelson@ct.gov
860-424-3454