Farmington Committee to partner on regional sustainability fair, approves $500 for 250th giveaways; recycling and composting updates reported

The Town of Farmington Green Efforts Committee voted on June 2 to partner with Simsbury and other nearby towns on a regional sustainability fair tentatively scheduled for May 1, 2027, and authorized up to $500 to buy sustainable giveaway items for the town's 250th celebration table.

Committee members said Simsbury reported strong turnout in prior years, with about 37 vendors and roughly 1,200 to 1,300 attendees; the fair planning committee would meet biweekly from February through May, and Farmington would help recruit local vendors and publicize the event to residents.

"They had between 1,200 and 1,300 attendees and 37 vendors," a committee member summarized of Simsbury's prior event; Farmington members supported joining rather than building a separate event.

Budget and 250th celebration planning

The committee discussed options for the joint Farmington-Avon table at the town's 250th celebration in late June, including kid-friendly recycling games, QR codes linking to resources, native-plant giveaway ideas and mosquito-dunk/DIY mosquito-bucket education. Mary and Patty were authorized to design sustainable giveaway items and prepare logistics; the group approved a not-to-exceed budget of $500 for purchase of sustainable materials and handouts.

Updates on recycling, composting and hazardous-waste collection

Garrett reported that school composting is underway at Union and Irving Robbins schools, with Union operating smoothly and a permanent table on order; weight totals for diverted food waste were not available at the meeting.

The committee also reviewed results from a recent household hazardous-waste event: 835 cars attended; 9.5 tons of e-waste were collected; 9 cubic yards of paint; 15,000 pounds of shredding; and 21,320 pounds (reported alongside a figure of 420 mattresses) of mattresses recycled. Members said they planned to post the results on social media to highlight the town's diversion work.

What the committee decided

Members voted to partner regionally on the sustainability fair and to permit up to $500 for sustainable giveaways for the 250th celebration. The committee did not commit ongoing town funds beyond that authorization and requested that the Mary/Patty team share proposed materials with the committee before purchase.

Next steps

Volunteers will be recruited for fair staffing and 250th-day activities; committee members and staff will follow up with Simsbury on planning meeting dates and with the town recreation director on logistics for the 250th event. The committee will also arrange a possible tour or presentation by the local materials-recovery facility to support future recycling education.