Regional Waste Authority Study
Purpose
To study and implement regional waste collaboration efforts between WestCOG municipalities that do not currently belong to a regional waste entity.
Background
Municipalities that work together or are part of a regional agreement have historically been able to leverage their aggregate waste streams (Municipal Solid Waste, Single Stream Recycling, organics, etc.) tonnage to yield better transportation and processing/disposal (“T&D”) rates in the marketplace. Regional cooperation also provides the ability to unify public outreach and education initiatives and deliver consistent messaging from town to town on important subject matters.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) awarded WestCOG a grant in August of 2024 for the purpose of reevaluating and implementing regional waste collaboration efforts such as a Regional Waste Authority (RWA). This Project seeks to build upon a previous Regional Waste Management Study conducted by Barton & Loguidice (B&L) that resulted in several recommendations for regionalization. For more information on the outcome of the previous study, please visit the link at the bottom of the page.
Discussion
The RWA study is focused on the following municipalities: Darien, Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk and New Canaan. The study is structured in two phases, where Phase II is dependent on the outcomes of Phase I. Phase I will reevaluate the findings from the previous study to further investigate and determine the most feasible option for regionalization. Such collaborative efforts could include forming an RWA, joining an existing RWA, or collaborating on specific waste streams as a starting point (i.e. organics diversion). Should the participants elect to form an RWA, Phase II of the study will lay the legal and technical framework for implementation. WestCOG’s focus is on two primary objectives: 1) reducing operational costs associated with solid waste collection and transfer station operations, and 2) evaluating how to optimize existing infrastructure and procurement processes.
WestCOG has retained NewGen Strategies & Solutions, an experienced consulting firm with expertise in solid waste management, to conduct the RWA Study.
Schedule
Phase I: March 2025-October 2025
Phase II: October 2025-June 2026
Staff Contact
For more information regarding the study or for any questions, please contact Project Manager Jaclyn Reelick at jreelick@westcog.org or 475-323-2067.