[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6050992,"mediaKeyId","3459664-f19f889153cdb148c88d068a72bb6c90","parentId",3459664,"title","Norwalk schools told to start cafeteria composting by July 1, 2026; district begins planning","audioSeconds",524,"startMs",147000,"endMs",671000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3459664-f19f889153cdb148c88d068a72bb6c90&start=147&end=671","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3459664-f19f889153cdb148c88d068a72bb6c90/thumbnail_147000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6050992/Connecticut/Norwalk-schools-told-to-start-cafeteria-composting-by-July-1-2026-district-begins-planning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050992-30dec26725d8f89cfeb1102dd26ded1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142264&Signature=k0UqM9VIBQ34xqg~zc5Aq0~5h8SYn8qrRml0KsDDDE~QsY7bpyP25sVF3MvukVHuF9gzdsnCV0ev1hMKOMvOlotqWBhp2KdOzRaWdpkQncCFc6VZgK2YBNNoOkcsv6z7nvU8mVOpmJ1CkOrYHs79VtpcwyTR45KrC2GKZ9xG3zw1jmGlHH5sYic4IubRCkdErszoJo~~1G8pCDBD0aIpS35aVsX9DJE4889QgISQfddppAU3P1IEPOxCqIO0wsOXpxleu82ZYqTlpIkGTHpoVa0Quyvgk3Xqy0vRGb1~6hKOhMM-8MUZ2MNd~1-Qp5MisS~xZBvhcX0LSu5gOXxmTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norwalk Public Schools ","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Norwalk Public Schools Facilities Committee was told April 30 that Connecticut will require K–12 cafeterias that produce more than 26 tons of organic waste and are within a 20-mile radius of a composting facility to begin a composting program by July 1, 2026.

\"It's been brought to our attention that as of 07/01/2026, the school, K through 12 are going to be required to start a composting, and requirement in our cafeterias,\" said Jill Crest, who leads the district's food services, briefing the committee on the state requirement.

The rule will apply to most Norwalk schools, Crest said; the district already composts at Jefferson and Cranberry schools using a vendor called Blue Earth, a service that includes staff training. Crest told the committee the district has about one year to plan and will examine options including continuing with Blue Earth, piggybacking on other districts' contracts or issuing a request for proposals.

\"We do currently compost in 2 in Jefferson and Cranberry School using Blue Earth. And they actually have a training piece included in their... package,\" Crest said.

Why it matters: The requirement carries budget and operational implications for school cafeterias and facilities. Crest told the committee the district has a preliminary cost estimate of roughly $100,000 to stand up a program across sites that qualify; that figure is a preliminary estimate provided by a vendor and may change with bidding or city partnership.

Committee members and staff discussed possible partnerships with the City of Norwalk. Crest said a city green team is forming and that city sustainability staff, including Jody Trendler, the city's director of sustainability and resilience, and Bill Hodel, a city representative, may be partners as the district evaluates whether local compost collected could be returned for city landscaping or parks use.

Operational details the district flagged include the need for school-level training, purchase of collection bins sized to each school's operations and the cost of carting food waste to an accepted composting site. Crest said the closest facility on the vendor-provided map appears to be in Richfield and that vendors commonly transport collected material to their own sites.

District next steps include: confirming which schools meet the 26-ton threshold and the 20-mile test, assessing vendor proposals and possible city partnerships, evaluating whether the district or city can host processing to reduce outsourcing costs, and identifying potential grants or other funding sources. Crest said she will include the requirement and initial planning work in a board update and will report back to the Facilities Committee as plans develop.

No committee vote or formal direction to adopt a contract occurred at the meeting; staff described this as an informational briefing and early-stage planning effort.

The district will continue to brief the Facilities Committee and the full board as staff investigate vendors, possible bids and funding paths ahead of the July 1, 2026 implementation date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Norwalk Public Schools FACILITIES/PLANNING COMMITTEE - April 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Norwalk Public Schools Facilities Committee was told April 30 that Connecticut will require K–12 cafeterias that produce more than 26 tons of organic waste and are within a 20-mile radius of a composting facility to begin a composting program by July 1, 2026.","taxTitle","Norwalk School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",13003,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6050987,"Norwalk facilities team reports progress on high-school projects, HVAC bids and multiple summer upgrades",1487,849000,2336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3459664-f19f889153cdb148c88d068a72bb6c90&start=849&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3459664-f19f889153cdb148c88d068a72bb6c90/thumbnail_849000.jpg","/articles/6050987/Connecticut/Norwalk-facilities-team-reports-progress-on-high-school-projects-HVAC-bids-and-multiple-summer-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050987-8e276283c4455268f272bf789806dfa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142264&Signature=FAiA3RaDtENZGd0dRmQTgJsag5kzRETU5r3JKo61EWbAZyoVhbxxYgnRZTPIfXA92LpLn97sjWubOI7QiwwxMmU5FW2jVHH4Omk5AVz3F2pUmNMrPzjmJsna2sZwSevu~K~bxV0Rk4lr-ij6E1eFhUP4tb5yHUqNeKivdCfdGme-ZLt2DHGqmWU~0Jl-AVBazGUdR~t7CQua69~z-eLoGBpGMFquEijLxSmKENX-Z-aMygp~QGig0dGs9WsC~gngeOrdehGgOegYByWzrk6NgQlgyhF4mAOPo~p3NsITZkF9jxmpZJfYnfR1ZFF03IC80vhzS0gT-bdBAzuubWWIqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Norwalk School District facilities staff gave the Facilities Committee an update April 30 on active construction and maintenance projects, saying major high-school work is on schedule but several indoor-air-quality (HVAC) projects came in over budget and require further review.

\"Our update for South [Norwalk] and Norwalk High School P‑TECH and the HVAC projects... we're actually on schedule right now,\" said Jim, a district construction staff member, describing progress at South Norwalk and the high-school projects. He said South Norwalk is scheduled for substantial completion this summer and crews are installing sidewalks, light poles, storefronts and interior finishes.

For Norwalk High School and the P‑TECH site, staff reported ongoing under-slab utilities, phased steel erection with multiple crane setups and a plan that would make portions of the campus ready for fall 2027 with the full project complete by fall 2028. Staff warned the main driveway will be closed for significant utility work this summer.

Indoor-air-quality projects: Facilities staff said they received bids this week for five remaining HVAC/IAQ projects; most came in higher than expected and require scope reviews with trade contractors and the construction manager. Brookside and Rowayton were noted as roughly within budget and moving forward; the other four projects were over budget and may span this summer and next as the team works second shifts and weekend installations.

\"The bids did come in, higher than expected. And we're in the process of reviewing those bids,\" Jim said, adding that equipment deliveries and multi-shift work may split installations across weekends and the school year.

Other summer work described by facilities director Bill included rooftop solar at Cranberry (main construction starting in July, active by October), removal of underground fuel storage tanks at Brookside and Tracy, conversion of a Tracy boiler from oil to gas, and the installation of air-conditioning equipment (window units and mini‑split systems) at Tracy.

Bill said the district is scheduling asbestos abatement at Fox Run this summer to remove and replace friable floor tile and that Wolf Pit will follow in future summers; staff emphasized ongoing inspection and management under state environmental rules and that no classrooms need closure at this time.

\"We have a specialist management plan that the full plan is updated every 3 years. And every year there are inspections to, abide by the DEEP regulations,\" Bill said when asked about safety around asbestos tile.

Other projects noted: replacement of student lockers at Roton (wider lockers, same footprint) and earlier site tours for small groups of teacher leaders. Staff said they will provide another report to the committee after scope reviews on the HVAC bids and as summer schedules and sequencing are confirmed.

No formal committee votes or contract awards occurred at the meeting; staff presented status updates and asked for continued oversight as they assess pricing and schedules.","Norwalk School District facilities staff told the Facilities Committee April 30 that construction at South Norwalk and Norwalk High/P‑TECH is on schedule while several indoor-air-quality (HVAC) projects returned bids higher than budget, prompting further scope review.","actionData","errors"]

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Norwalk schools told to start cafeteria composting by July 1, 2026; district begins planning

Norwalk facilities team reports progress on high-school projects, HVAC bids and multiple summer upgrades