Newtown Composting Expansion Backed Grant Through $1.5 Million Waste Initiative

NEWTOWN, CT — Newtown will see its local composting capacity expanded through a $1.54 million state grant awarded to the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA), Governor Ned Lamont announced Wednesday.

The grant, part of $7.5 million distributed statewide through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Grant Program, will support new and expanded waste reduction programs across 18 municipalities and regional groups.

The HRRA, which serves Newtown and 13 other area towns, will use the funding to expand Newtown’s existing aerated static pile composting system, develop additional food scrap collection sites, and purchase regional support equipment for waste diversion improvements in Bethel, Ridgefield, Kent, and other participating communities.

“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.”

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said the state is investing in programs that address local needs while building long-term resilience in waste management. “We are excited to continue making significant investments in our municipal and regional partners who are at the forefront of the waste disposal crisis,” she said.

The SMM program, launched in 2022, aims to help towns reduce dependence on out-of-state waste disposal following the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) facility in Hartford. That closure left municipalities with fewer in-state disposal options, increasing costs as waste was trucked to out-of-state landfills.

The program funds local efforts such as unit-based pricing systems, food scraps recycling programs, composting facilities, and technical support for waste authorities. The first round of SMM funding diverted more than 1,000 tons of waste from disposal, according to DEEP.

“The SMM grant program helps move our waste management system from outdated models to ones that are fiscally and environmentally sustainable,” said State Sen. Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), co-chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee.

Newtown has been at the forefront of HRRA’s composting initiatives, including its food scraps drop-off program at the transfer station and the regional composting pilot at the Public Works yard. The new funding will expand capacity and allow HRRA to process more material locally, reducing both disposal costs and trucking emissions.

Lamont said the grants reflect Connecticut’s broader goal of “restoring self-sufficiency in waste management” and stabilizing tipping fees across municipalities.