Recycling Overview	Curbside Recycling	DOC Recycling

In Connecticut, Recycling is State Law!

Who must recycle?  Everyone must recycle.
Who is everyone? 

• Every resident living in a single or multifamily house or building,
• Every business including non-profits
• All public and private agencies and institutions, e.g., schools, colleges , hospitals , local and state government agencies
• EVERYONE MUST RECYCLE IN CT!

How do I recycle in compliance with State law and local ordinances?

• At curbside for pickup by private or municipal haulers
• At your local Drop Off Center

What items must be recycled?  The items required to be recycled in accordance with State law include:

• Glass & metal food and beverage containers
• Corrugated cardboard
• Newspaper
• Magazines & catalogs
• Boxboard & chipboard (e.g. cereal boxes)
• Electronics
• Plastics containers or
• Office paper
• Scrap Metal
• Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries (from electronics)
• Waste oil
• Lead acid batteries (from vehicles)
• Leaves (must be composted)
• Grass is banned from disposal at landfills and resource recovery facilities (incinerators). Grass clippings should be left on the lawn or, if necessary, composted.

What additional items can be recycled in HRRA municipalities? 

• All plastic containers numbers 1 - 7
• Greeting cards and junk mail
• Hardcover and paperback books
• Phone books
• Milk and juice cartons
• Plastic Flower pots
• Shredded paper

Who is responsible for recycling?

• It all starts with you - every homeowner, every renter, every business owner, every employee.  CT law requires that YOU separate recyclables from municipal solid waste (grabage) before leaving it at curbside for your hauler or taking it to the local Drop Off Center.
• Your hauler or municipal Drop Off Center is responsible for reporting any customer who does not separate recyclables from garbage per CT law and for maintaining your separation of recyclabes from solid waste.
• Your municipality is responsible for insuring that there is a legally permitted site available to its residents for properly disposing of solid waste and recyclables.
• HRRA is responsible for helping member municipalities work together to meet their recycling obligations in the most cost effective manner and assisting with recycling education.

Besides complying with State and local laws, why recycle?  You will be protecting your health as well as the environment if you recycle. Recycling:

• Reduces the amount of waste that must be disposed – which means less waste to incinerate or landfill.
• Prevents or reduces air and water pollution.
• Conserves precious natural resources – since less raw materials need to be extracted and processed.
• Saves energy – in 1996 the energy savings from recycling in the U.S. equaled the energy used by 4 million households!
• Makes us more sustainable because we are borrowing less materials and energy from our children’s future.

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