Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling & Food Scrap Management
State Requirements
Along with everyone in Connecticut, state agencies are along with everyone in Connecticut, state agencies are required by law to recycle certain items including glass, metal, and plastic food & beverage containers; corrugated cardboard and boxboard (i.e. cereal boxes); rechargeable batteries; leaves (must be collected or composted) and grass clippings (can be left on lawn areas or composted); and Source Separated Organic Materials (SSOM).
Additionally, Executive Order 1 Section 1b establishes a “a 25 percent reduction in waste disposal by 2030" and Executive Order 21-3 Section 3 states, “By 2024, all executive branch agency facilities, to the extent practicable, shall implement an organics and food waste diversion program.” In addition, hospitality, health care, hospital and higher education institutions generating at least 26 tons of organic materials are required to establish a collection program and divert food scraps to an authorized compost or anaerobic digestion facility.
Food/Organics Diversion Requirement for many State Agencies: Per C.G.S. Section 22a-226e, “On and after January 1, 2025, each commercial food wholesaler or distributor, industrial food manufacturer or processor, supermarket, resort, conference center or institution that generates an average projected volume of not less than twenty-six tons per year of source-separated organic materials shall: (A) Separate such source-separated organic materials from other solid waste; and (B) ensure that such source-separated organic materials are recycled at any authorized source-separated organic material composting facility that has available capacity and that will accept such source-separated organic material. For the purposes of this section “institution” means any establishment engaged in providing hospitality, entertainment or rehabilitation and health care services, and any hospital, public or independent institution of higher education building or facility or correctional facility.”
Additional information about Connecticut specific waste and recycling requirements can be found at the following links:
Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Resources
Reusing and recycling reduces trash disposal costs, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The first step for agencies is to ensure you have a strong recycling program for all mandatory items (see above) to be in compliance with state law. You may then explore opportunities to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recycle other items. The following resources will help your agency develop and improve reuse and recycling programs:
- How to Recycle at Your Agency (CT DEEP) checklist provides a step-by-step guide your agency can take to start or improve recycling.
- Printable container signage identifying what goes in the bin; Mixed Recyclables and Trash
- Start a ReSupply Center (CT DEEP) provides guidance on creating a space for building occupants to access gently used office items and supplies to reduce the need to purchase new items.
- School Recycling and Composting Resources (CT DEEP).
- College and University Recycling Coalition’s Webinar Library targets higher educational institutions’ materials management.
- How to Start a Green Team (CT DEEP) guidance document shares the importance of Green Team driven waste and emission reduction efforts.
- How to Green Your CT State Agency (CT DEEP) and P2 for State and Local Government Agencies (ct.gov) webpage provide more information on ideas to green your agency from DEEP's Pollution Prevention program.
Food Waste - Reduction, Recovery and Recycling Resources
The best approaches for reducing food waste are: 1. Improving processes and practices to minimize wasted food and 2. recovering surplus food for donation. These are key strategies in the EPA’s Wasted Food Scale, which result in potential cost savings and can helping to nourish people.
Lower on the hierarchy of food scrap reduction and diversion strategies is food scrap collection and recycling. This approach requires contracts with a hauler to send this material to a permitted compost facility or anaerobic digester, and involves setting up separate containers to collect food scraps inside the facility. To set up a program at your agency, review the following:
- The DAS Rubbish Removal and Recycling Services for All Using State Agencies Contract now includes Food Scrap Hauling Services (Search the DAS Contracting Portal for Contract #23PSX0258).
- State Agencies can utilize the Technical Assistance Statewide Materials Management contract for services to reduce the amount of waste generated and improve the efficiency of solid waste and recycling operations. For more information on the contract (Search the DAS Contracting Portal for contract #22PSX0016).
- CET’s Guidance for Businesses Contracting for Trash Recycling and Food Waste Services.
Other helpful information to help your agency reduce food waste and divert food scraps include:
- CT DEEP’s Food Waste Reduction and Recovery webpage – includes sector-specific resources including schools.
- CT DEEP’s Composting and Organics Recycling webpage includes sector-specific resources including schools.
- Case study on Food Scrap Collection at Connecticut Valley Hospital.
- Printable container signage to identify which items are acceptable in your program.
Sustainable Purchasing Resources
Agencies may adopt a policy to purchase environmentally preferable products (EPPs)- products that are energy efficient, non-toxic, reusable, recyclable and have recycled content.
- CT DAS resources on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP).
- CT DEEP’s Green Purchasing Policy provides guidance on buying green products that have reduced environmental impacts compared with competing products that serve the same purpose.
- CT DEEP’s How to Implement Sustainable Purchasing at Your Agency checklist provides steps state agencies can take to implement standard procedures to purchase green products.
Content Last Updated October 2025