Bethel Awarded State Funding For New Composting System To Boost Waste Diversion Efforts

BETHEL, CT — Bethel is among several towns benefiting from a $1.54 million state grant awarded to the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) to expand food scrap composting and regional waste diversion initiatives, Governor Ned Lamont announced Tuesday.

The funding, part of $7.5 million in Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) grants distributed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), will be used to construct a new aerated static pile composting system in Bethel and improve existing composting facilities in Newtown, along with regional waste diversion upgrades in Ridgefield and Kent.

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Lamont said in a statement. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

The grant program, now in its second round, helps towns and regional organizations develop strategies to reduce solid waste disposal costs and environmental impacts. Funding supports efforts like food scrap recycling, unit-based pricing systems, and composting infrastructure.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said the program reflects the state’s investment in long-term waste solutions following the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) plant in Hartford, which has forced towns to ship waste out of state. “We are excited to continue making significant investments in our municipal and regional partners who are at the forefront of the waste disposal crisis,” Dykes said.

The HRRA grant is one of 18 awarded across Connecticut. DEEP officials said the first round of the SMM program diverted more than 1,000 tons of waste from landfills and waste-to-energy plants, demonstrating significant potential cost savings for municipalities.

“This round of grant awards continues the forward progress toward a more sustainable and cost-effective waste management system in Connecticut,” said State Sen. Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), co-chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee.

The HRRA, based in Brookfield, coordinates solid waste and recycling programs for 14 member towns, including Bethel, Newtown, Ridgefield, Danbury, and Kent. The new composting system in Bethel will allow the agency to process more food waste locally, cutting down on trucking distances and disposal fees while advancing the region’s goal of achieving zero waste by 2050.

The SMM program was launched after feedback from more than 100 municipalities and has become a cornerstone of the state’s waste diversion strategy, DEEP officials said.