Sustainable Waste Management

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Overview

What are the 6 R's?

  

The next time you're looking to make a purchase, accept a free giveaway, or throw away an item, consider the 6 R's...

Rethink Icon  Rethink - Was this item made sustainably? Will this item last?

Refuse Icon  Refuse - Do I need this item? Will I use this item? If I only need it once, can I borrow or rent it?

Reduce Icon  Reduce - Is this item disposable? Could I instead purchase something reusable?

Reuse Icon  Reuse - Can I find a used version of this item? If I don't need the item anymore, can I sell it or donate it?

Repair Icon  Repair - Can my existing item be repaired instead of replaced?

Recycle Icon  Recycle - If my item can't be reused or repaired, can it be recycled?

**Check out the tabs at the top of the page to learn about the various resources available to creating less waste!

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Rethink, Refuse, Reduce

The most powerful step toward a greener future begins with rethinking our habits. By learning to say no to unnecessary items, minimizing our use of disposable products, and actively reducing waste, we can make a significant impact on our planet's health. It all starts with our choices.

 

1. Sustainable Shopping

2. Reducing Food Waste

3. Unwanted Mail

Sustainable Shopping

Think green before you shop

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Reducing Food Waste

The average American wastes 290 pounds of food a year.

About 1/4 of residential trash is made up of food! And residential food waste makes up 40% of all wasted food in the US!! Check out our Residential Food Waste page for resources on how to reduce food waste at home!

Residential Food Waste

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Unwanted Mail

Junk Mail Image

Looking to stop receiving junk mail and save some trees in the process? Check out the United States Postal Service's webpage to learn how!

How to Handle Unwanted Mail

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Repair/Reuse

Don't toss it, fix it! When your items break or tear, there are repair services and tool rental places ready to help. And if you no longer need a functioning item, consider selling, giving away, or donating it to extend its life. When you're in need, think about buying something used—let's make the most of what we have and reduce waste together!

Girl painting an old chair.

1. Manchester Furniture Rehome Program

2. Local Tool Rentals

3. Local Repair Shops

4. Local Thrift Stores & Donation Bins

5. Local Tag Sale Events

6. Buying, Selling, & Sharing Used Items Online

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Manchester Furniture Rehome Program

Introducing the Manchester Furniture Rehome Program, an initiative dedicated to fostering a culture of generosity and sustainability. This program invites residents to contribute to the well-being of their neighbors by donating gently used furniture items. From lamps that to sturdy tables, chairs, bed frames, and dressers, the focus is on essential pieces that enhance the quality of life for those in need. Storage unit located at the Manchester Transfer Station.

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Local Tool Rentals

Manchester offers an array of tool and equipment rental spots, saving you the hassle of buying items you only need occasionally. These rental services provide access to a wide range of tools and equipment, making it easy and cost-effective to tackle your projects without the commitment of ownership.

Tools

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Local Repair Shops

Manchester is also home to a variety of repair shops that specialize in reviving cherished items such as...

  • Jewelry
  • Bikes
  • Shoes
  • Appliances
  • Electronics

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Local Thrift Stores & Donation Bins

There are clothing/book donation bins and secondhand stores located all throughout town, so consider taking unwanted used clothing or books to these places for reuse. Find below an interactive map of places around town to donate items such as clothing, furniture, and books.

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Local Tag Sale Events

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South United Methodist Church Trash & Treasures Fair

Residents can donate specific used items (no clothing, textbooks, or large items) that will be sold during a one-day event. Usually takes place in the spring or early summer.

Manchester Women's Club Townwide Tag Sale

Residents can sign-up to be included in a one-day event where everyone has tag sales at their homes. There is a $20 fee to participate, and the proceeds go towards a Scholarship fund. Usually takes place in the beginning of June. 

Parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Bridget Church Unique Boutique

Residents can donate specific used items that will be sold over a three-day event. Usually takes place in the end of August.

Manchester Land Conservation Trust

The Manchester Land Trust usually has 2 big tag sales: May and September. And most years a "mini" tag sale (2 or 3 days) in December, and occasionally a one-day Halloween sale!  

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Buying, Selling, & Sharing Used Items Online

  • Craigslist
  • eBay
  • Etsy
  • Facebook Marketplace 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with my paper bags?

MACC Charities is a Manchester-based nonprofit organization that accepts paper bag donations.

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How do I dispose of my shredded paper?

After paper is shredded, it can no longer be recycled. This is because the strips of paper are too small. For a more sustainable approach to managing shredded paper, donate it to the Lutz Children's Museum where it will be used as animal bedding!

Lutz Children's Museum

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Recycle

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials (that would otherwise be thrown away as trash) and remanufacturing them into new products (US EPA). This sustainable practice helps conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimize environmental impacts, making it a crucial element in our efforts to protect the planet. Check out the Recycle Right video, below, for information on what happens to your recyclables and more!

1. What is Wish-Cycling?

2. Residential Recycling Collection

3. Recycling at the Transfer Station

4. Recycling Food Scraps

5. Private Recycling Drop-off Programs

5.1 Plastic Bags & Plastic Film

5.2 Electronic Waste & Printer Ink/Toner Cartridges

6. Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wish-Cycling?

When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars. And when in the dark about recycling, use the Recycle CT wizard.

Wish-cycling is a term used to describe when people put items in the recycling bin without knowing if they're actually recyclable. This leads to problems like contamination and higher costs in the recycling process.

A couple of commonly miss-recycled items:

  • Plastic bags and plastic film can NOT be recycled in your blue bin. These items will tangle the equipment at the recycling sorting facility. Check out the Plastic Bags & Plastic Film section of this webpage to learn what you can do to recycle these items.
  • Pizza boxes CAN be recycled, as long as the food residue is removed. (A little grease is okay.) The liner in the box should go into the trash.
  • Do NOT put plastic items that are smaller than 2"x2" in your blue bin. (For reference, the short side of your license or credit card is 2 inches.) This is the size of the screen used at the sorting facility where the crushed glass falls through. We don't want to mix plastic in with the glass!

To avoid wish-cycling, check out our FAQ section or use the search wizard on RecycleCT's webpage, and when in doubt, throw it out!

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Residential Recycling Collection

Residential Collection

The Town of Manchester offers curbside collection of single-stream recycling to many of its residents. Curbside recycling promotes sustainability, reduces landfill waste, and encourages environmentally responsible practices within our community. Visit the Residential Recycling Collection webpage to learn more!

Residential Recycling Collection

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Recycling at the Transfer Station

Transfer Station

What you'll find when you visit the Manchester Transfer Station is that nearly the entire right side is dedicated to recycling! Check out the StoryMap on the Transfer Station's webpage to find out what items can be recycled there.

Manchester Transfer Station

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Recycling Food Scraps

Composting food scraps

Did you know that composting is considered a form of recycling? There are many ways you can recycle your food scraps into compost, be it at your own home or through one of Manchester's Food-Waste-to-Compost Programs. To learn more, check out our Residential Food Waste page!

Residential Food Waste

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Private Recycling Drop-off Programs

Some local businesses accept specific items for recycling at no cost, such as plastic bags and plastic film, electronic waste, and printer ink and toner cartridges.

Plastic Bags & Plastic Film

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Plastic bags and plastic film DO NOT belong in single-stream recycling because they can get caught in the sorting equipment. To recycle your plastic bags and plastic film, visit a drop-off location nearest you.

Not sure where to go? Trex is a company that recycles plastic bags and plastic film into composite decking through their NexTrex program. You can participate in the NexTex program by dropping off your plastic bags and plastic film at one of their participating retail chains in Connecticut:

  • Acme
  • Big Y
  • Kohl's
  • Ocean State Job Lot
  • Price Chopper
  • Stop & shop
  • Whole Foods

NexTrex Recycling Program

Not sure what they accept? Check out this video or visit their website for more information.

 

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Electronic Waste & Printer Ink/Toner Cartridges

Electronic Waste

Printer ink and toner cartridges are often collected at the same places that accept electronic waste. While you can recycle these items at the Manchester Transfer Station, you can also drop them off at the locations listed below. Make sure to first check the program's webpage to confirm that they accept the items you are looking to recycle.

Best Buy (Manchester)

Staples (Glastonbury/Vernon)

Green Monster eRecycling (West Hartford)

Planet Green Recycle (Free Mail-In)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does single-stream recycling work? Are all of the recyclables truly separated?

YES! Click here to learn more about the single-stream recycling recovery process.

 

What materials can I recycle in the blue recycling cart?

Visit RecycleCT.com to learn what can and can't go into your blue recycling cart.

Do recyclables need to be rinsed/washed before putting them in the blue recycling cart?

Simply rinse your recyclables and allow them to air-dry before putting them in your recycling cart. They do not have to be perfectly cleaned.

Do I have to separate my lids from my containers?

Plastic bottles with or without the caps attached are acceptable. However, loose plastic bottle caps are not recyclable. Metal lids from cans and bottles are accepted.

What is aseptic packaging?

Aseptic packaging, commonly known as a 'drink box', is a combination of paper, plastic, and aluminum. This multi-layer package locks out light and air, seals in nutrients and flavor, and allows its contents to remain unrefrigerated for months. In addition to a drink box, milk and juice cartons are also considered aseptic. Also known as gable-top cartons, they are often a half-gallon in size, but there are smaller and larger sizes as well.

Can I recycle prescription pill bottles?

Unfortunately, prescription pill bottles are too small to be recycled. For a more sustainable option, you can donate your pill bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries for reuse. The pill bottles will then be used to improve medical care in developing countries.

Is shredded paper recyclable? Does the Town offer paper shredding services?

No, shredded paper is not recyclable. For a more sustainable way to dispose of your shredded paper, donate it to the Lutz Children's Museum to be used as bedding for the animals.

The Town of Manchester hosts two annual shred events: one in the spring and one in the fall.

Is it true that black plastic is not recyclable?

Black plastic is very challenging for the optical sensors at the sorting facilities to recognize. If your recycling is collected by All American Waste (also known as USA Recycling), then your recyclables will go to a sorting facility that has more advanced optical sensors. Even with these advanced optical sensors, only about 40% of the black plastic is actually recognized properly, and the rest is thrown away. As such, we encourage everyone to reuse your takeout containers, when possible. They are especially handy for giving away leftover food at parties!

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