Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

DEEP News Release Header

11/15/2018

DEEP Encourages Residents to Take Part in America Recycles Day

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds everyone to take part in America Recycles Day, celebrated annually on November 15th. While recycling happens every day of the year, November 15 is set aside to recognize and celebrate the positive impacts of reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, and closing the recycling loop in our communities, schools, businesses and state agencies.
“Recycling is one of the easiest things everyone can do to help our environment,” said DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee. “Recycling begins at home, and is a fun way to engage children in the benefits of helping to protect our planet. I encourage everyone to do their part each day by reducing, reusing and recycling.”
To assist in ensuring a clean recycling stream, RecycleCT in partnership with the DEEP and Connecticut Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), the organizations that process our residential mixed recyclables, last year developed the ‘What’s IN, What’s OUT’ list of acceptable materials for our mixed recycling bins.
The ‘What’s IN, What’s OUT’ campaign has been recognized with regional and national awards for encouraging recycling. With an easy to use widget that provides quick answers to questions about what can and cannot be recycled, short videos highlighting recycling issues, and materials related to recycling that Connecticut cities and towns can share with the residents, RecycleCT.com has become the go to site on the web for all questions regarding recycling in Connecticut.
Since the launch of the ‘What’s IN, What’s OUT’ campaign in 2017, the website has experienced more than 7.4 million impressions, 70,000 web site visits, 104,000 sorting RecycleCT wizard searches and 1.9 million video views.
RecycleCT.Com Top Ten Items Searched:
IN – Acceptable in mixed recycling bin
Pizza Boxes (no food, removed liner)
Plastic take-out containers (rinsed, no food)
Aluminum foil
Milk, juice cartons
Plastic “clam shell” container (not Styrofoam)
OUT – Not acceptable in mixed recycling bin
Styrofoam/polystyrene
Plastic Bags
Shredded Paper
Battery (non-rechargeable)
Prescription Bottles
About RecycleCT
RecycleCT Council, which formed as a result of Public Act 14-94, has recently published a report outlining its successes, which includes becoming a non-profit organization with a Board of Directors, distributing over $210,000 in grants for schools, non-profits and municipalities and developing the statewide campaign, What’s IN, What’s OUT, that is working to better inform residents of what goes in the recycling bin and what doesn’t, as well as provide tools and resources to local municipal recycling coordinators.   The Annual Report 2015-2018 includes a few case studies, all of which focus on education and engagement, which leads to action.

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
Facebook: DEEP on Facebook