The New Canaan Conservation Commission received updates on the town's food-scrap program and transfer-station outreach during its Jan. 9 meeting, including a vendor name change, increased composting volumes and options to relocate bins for greater capacity.

A town staff member reported that the curbside organics contractor restructured and now operates as Natural Upcycling LLC; staff said the crew and pricing have not changed. Commission members said pickup-day adjustments and occasional one-off missed pickups have occurred but that the vendor team appears to be the same people.

Why it matters: The commission was told curbside participants produced about 28.12 tons of food scraps in fiscal year 2024, up from 25.84 tons when the program began in 2021. Officials discussed moving the food-scrap collection point nearer the swap shop so it could use larger totes and reduce turnover, which could improve user experience and lower complaints about full containers.

Bin location, parking and signage: Staff said the current concrete spit at the transfer station cannot accommodate larger totes; moving the location closer to the swap shop would allow larger capacity bins but could reduce a parking space or two. Commissioners and staff discussed trade-offs between convenience for swap-shop visitors and drop-in users, and suggested signage and a larger display board to clarify what is accepted.

Brochures and permit distribution: Commission members reviewed transfer-station brochures the town printed last year and debated distribution methods. Staff recommended stamping permit envelopes with "sticker enclosed" to ensure recipients notice the permit; the commission agreed to include brochures with permit mailings and to add the brochure to the town newsletter and newcomer materials. Hazardous-waste collection dates likely appear in the spring brochure; staff expected a broader mailing before permits are sold in July.

Next steps: Staff will explore moving the food-scrap bins to a larger-capacity location, discuss signage improvements and coordinate brochure updates with Planet New Canaan for spring mailing. The commission offered to help with stamping and distribution work.