Farmington’s Green Efforts Committee Meeting: Sorting Trash, Scheduling Juggling, and Plastic Bag Battles ♻️🗑️
The Green Efforts Committee of Farmington, Connecticut, convened on October 1, 2024, for another lively meeting filled with discussions on environmental sustainability, recycling challenges, and upcoming events. Committee Chair Garrett Anderson led the meeting, which provided plenty of insights into how the town works toward a greener future.
If you missed the action, the entire meeting is available to watch here on YouTube.
🗓️ Calendar Confusion: The Meeting That Almost Didn’t Happen
The meeting opened with a review of the September 3, 2024 minutes, quickly moving on to the real issue at hand—scheduling. It seems there was some debate about John Simmons’s attendance, who was mistakenly listed as absent from the September meeting. After clarifying that he had been present in August but not in September, the minutes were approved with a minor correction (credit for the motion to adjourn had been wrongly attributed to Bree Matthews, who was not in attendance).
Chair Garrett Anderson led the group through the 2024 calendar, with most meetings set for the first Tuesday of each month—except for January. Since January 1st falls on a holiday, the committee decided to push that meeting to Monday, January 7th. There was also a discussion about canceling the July meeting, given its proximity to the Fourth of July holiday.
“We don’t usually have much going on in July anyway,” Garrett explained. “But we’ll decide closer to the date.” He also raised the possibility of adding a second April meeting for Earth Day cleanup efforts. Marty Gallagher will chair the January 7th meeting, as Amy Spencer, the usual secretary, will be on vacation. The committee will revisit the schedule at the start of the year to finalize dates.
Check out the full discussion of meeting dates in the video here.
♻️ Plastic Bags, Wish-Cycling, and Highland Park Market’s Heroics
The committee dived deep into recycling issues—notably, the problems stemming from improper recycling habits in the town. Bree Matthews started the discussion by suggesting that Farmington’s winter newsletter could feature local businesses adopting sustainable practices.
One such business is Highland Park Market, which has eliminated plastic bags. However, Garrett and Stacy Knight highlighted the issue of “wish-cycling”—when residents throw non-recyclable items (like greasy pizza boxes or plastic bags) into recycling bins, hoping they’ll get processed anyway. “Plastic bags clog the machines,” Garrett said, “People don’t realize that putting their recycling in plastic bags actually disrupts the entire system.”
The town is looking to better educate the public about proper recycling procedures, especially since single-use plastic bags were officially banned in 2021. The committee considered an awareness campaign, possibly addressing common mistakes like “wish-cycling” and highlighting businesses that have ditched plastics altogether.
🏫 Schools’ Recycling: A Green Dream or Trash Nightmare?
Sam Nelson, the town’s Facilities Coordinator, discussed the ongoing challenge of recycling in Farmington’s public schools. Teachers diligently fill recycling bins, but the contents often end up in the trash due to contamination by non-recyclable materials. Stacy Knight expressed her frustration, noting, “You ask any teacher, and they’ll tell you it’s going straight to the dumpster.”
Sam Nelson explained that the entire batch is treated as garbage when non-recyclables get mixed in with recyclables. He suggested focusing efforts on composting and energy reduction, noting that these might be more achievable goals for the schools.
The committee briefly discussed how composting initiatives—like those already in place at Westwoods Upper Elementary—might be expanded to other schools. The town could work on a campaign to promote composting and recycling best practices within the school system. Chair Garrett Anderson emphasized the importance of addressing the issue but acknowledged the difficulty of getting consistent cooperation.
Watch the full discussion of school recycling issues here.
🔌 Electric Car Chargers and Solar Panels: High School Edition
On a positive note, the new Farmington High School will be equipped with electric vehicle (EV) chargers—although the installation is still a work in progress. Marty Gallagher confirmed that wiring for the chargers is already in place near the future Board of Education offices (in the 900 wing), and the infrastructure will support up to eight charging ports.
However, to the disappointment of several committee members, solar panels are not currently part of the plan. Stacy Knight expressed her frustration, stating, “I thought we were going all-in on green energy at the new high school. Why no solar?” Marty Gallagher explained that budget constraints and logistical challenges made the installation of solar panels unfeasible at this time.
While the lack of solar panels was a letdown, the committee agreed that the EV chargers will be a great asset to the town. Garrett Anderson pointed out that the chargers will be available for public use during events like football games, making them a resource for both students and the wider community.
Public Education and Future Newsletter Topics
The final agenda item centered on future newsletter content. Amy Spencer floated the idea of featuring local businesses and their efforts to go green. Bree Matthews suggested revisiting the issue of plastic waste, noting that the Farmington Valley Health District could be a valuable resource in educating residents on eco-friendly practices. She also mentioned the possibility of running an article on reducing restaurant plastic takeout containers.
The committee discussed featuring the Westwoods Upper Elementary composting program in the next newsletter, emphasizing its success in reducing food waste. There was also talk of interviewing local businesses that have cut down on their plastic use. The group agreed to reach out to the Economic Development Commission for more ideas and to see if they could help gather data on local green efforts.
Watch the brainstorming session here.
A Huge Thanks to Farmington Storage!
Of course, none of this would be possible without the generous support of our local businesses. A big shoutout to our sponsor, Farmington Storage, located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. Whether you’re storing seasonal items or need some extra space for that recycling that’s piling up, Farmington Storage has you covered! Give them a call at 860.777.4001 for all your storage needs. 📦
Want More Farmington Mercury?
The Farmington Mercury has all the hyper-local news you need, from zoning laws to board of education updates. Check out the latest stories on Farmington’s 2024 Elections, follow the Historic District Commission, or read up on local law enforcement.
💌 Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter for exclusive updates, interviews, and in-depth local coverage. And don’t hesitate to reach out via Twitter (or “Twix”—we’re still figuring out what to call it these days).
Jack Beckett’s Signature:
“Running on coffee, local news, and the occasional recycling rant. Catch me sifting through compost—or the latest Farmington zoning regulation. My espresso cup is never half-empty, just half-composted.”
