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Recycling committee reports swap-shop numbers and explores more-visible food-scrap drop boxes
Summary
The swap shop recorded 935 items adopted this season; the town's food-scrap recovery uses a transfer-station bin with inconsistent pickup arrangements. Recycling committee members recommended investigating high-visibility drop boxes (model: West Hartford's MetroKey bins) and potential funding sources such as miniature-bottle funds or grants.
Joe of the Recycling Committee presented season statistics and a review of Simsbury's food-scrap program. The swap shop closed for the season after 27 open Saturdays with about 1,000 visitors and 935 items adopted; volunteers logged roughly 162 hours to staff the operation.
Joe also reported that the town operates a food-scrap drop-off at the transfer station that began in April 2024; the contractor or end-hauler has varied over time and committee members were uncertain of consistent pickup arrangements. He compared Simsbury's miniature-bottle ("clink") revenue levels to West Hartford and said West Hartford's program has four high-visibility bins in public locations, 30,000 pounds collected in an early five-month window and 923 registered users. West Hartford uses Blue Earth for collection and routes material to regional digesters, and the town has used miniature-bottle surcharge funds to hire a recycling coordinator and expand services.
Joe proposed investigating whether Simsbury could use NIP funds, miniature-bottle proceeds or grants to pilot one or two high-visibility food-scrap bins in high-traffic locations such as downtown, near grocery plazas or at town facilities. Committee members suggested contacting West Hartford staff (Catherine Burns was named as a contact) and exploring grant programs for a pilot deployment; they also noted that Simsbury and West Hartford differ significantly in scale and tax base, which will affect costs and feasible scope.
No formal action was taken; the committee asked Joe to research costs and the status of miniature-bottle funds and report back.
