DEP Nears End of Solid Waste Management Planning Process
In concert with stakeholders and consulting firm R.W.
Beck, the CT DEP is finishing drafts of its solid waste management
plan. The DEP has posted information on the planning process and draft
sections on the DEP
website. The public can submit informal comments on the preliminary
draft plan prior to January 11th. Formal comments may be made on the
proposed plan following public notice. Public hearings will also be
held. The final plan is expected to be released in March 2006.
In early November, DEP released a draft document of certain sections
of the proposed State Solid Waste Management Plan. It contained the
Vision Statement; Guiding Principles; Goals; and Objectives and Strategies.
Among the most significant proposals being made include (1) have reliable,
stable sources of funding in place to support programs at the state,
regional and municipal levels; (2) aggressively reduce the amount of
waste disposed through increased recycling and composting programs;
and (3) monitor available disposal capacity to ensure the State's interests
are being met and assign high priority to any applications for new capacity
when it is determined to be needed.
The draft document was discussed at the DEP External Stakeholders Committee
meeting in November. The DEP expects to have a complete draft Plan in
mid-January. For more information, see DEP's website on the State
Solid Waste Management Plan or contact Tess
Gutowski.
Energetically Protecting Connecticut's Environment
Clean energy is not something we just talk about at the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). On November 2, DEP become
the first and only Connecticut state agency to take advantage of the
new clean energy option and is now all of the agency's electrical power
comes from renewable energy. The energy will come from wind, landfill
gases, and small hydroelectric plants. DEP's mission is to protect all
facets of the environment of the state: we maintain our beautiful state
parks, protect our land, water and air, and provide education to the
public. You may recall from previous newsletter articles that DEP employees
recycle and compost at its headquarters. And the recent switch to purchasing
of clean energy is another example of DEP's effort to practice what
it preaches.
The first step was to invest in energy conservation and efficiency.
For example, DEP made improvements in windows, installed more efficient
fluorescent fixtures, occupancy sensor lighting controls, and an energy
management system. In June 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
honored DEP and the CT Department of Public Works for making these significant
improvements in its 75-year old building with an Energy Star Label for
superior energy efficiency.
DEP's recent move to purchase "clean" power is helping the
State move towards a goal of obtaining 20% of its power from renewable
sources by 2010. Although the clean energy option is currently more
expensive, as more Connecticut businesses and residents sign up, we
may see a decrease in that cost over time, but we will reap the environmental
benefits of less polluted air right away. For example, DEP Commissioner
Gina McCarthy remarked that by switching to clean power, the DEP will
reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 3,716 tons per year or the equivalent
of taking 730 cars off the road. In addition, we are taking one more
step to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.
DEP employees are also taking their commitment to environment out of
the office -- 70 employees so far have signed up to buy clean power
for their homes. This represents a savings per household of 11 barrels
of oil each year. Customers of Connecticut Light & Power or United
Illuminating can choose to purchase clean energy for their homes or
businesses. To date, about 5,500 customers have chosen this option.
Throughout Connecticut, there are now 16 towns that are also committed
to buying clean energy and are encouraging their local residents, businesses,
and institutions to do so.
For more information on choosing clean energy, visit http://www.gocleanenergy.com.
You can calculate how clean the electricity that you use is by going
to http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler.htm.
To find out more about what Connecticut towns are doing or for general
information on climate change, go to http://www.ctclimatechange.com.
Everything...Including the Kitchen Sink: An Update
On
October 15, The ReCONNstruction Center, a non-profit building materials
re-use store, celebrated its grand opening at 230 South Street in New
Britain. The day was a sweet reward for the volunteer members who have
been working hard for the past three years to make their vision a reality.
Despite the rain, a steady stream of customers purchased everything
from windows and doors to hardware and molding. The most commonly heard
phrase of the day was "This is such a great idea…I'll be back
with my friends".
The ReCONNstruction Center functions similarly to a Salvation Army
thrift shop, except that instead of accepting clothing and household
goods, the Center accepts donations of unwanted, but perfectly usable
building materials. These materials are inventoried, priced, and displayed
at the store. Each donor receives a receipt with a description of the
donated materials that can be used to claim a tax deduction. You too
can show your support for the environment by purchasing, donating, or
volunteering. Regular store hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 7 a.m. -
noon; Thursday & Friday 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Visit the website
for more information.
A Bright Idea
Open
a newspaper or turn on the TV, and there's bound to be a news story
on the cost of fuel and electricity. One simple thing that all of us
can do to conserve energy is to switch to compact fluorescent light
bulbs (CFLs). By replacing one incandescent light bulb in every U.S.
home with an Energy Star compact fluorescent lamp can save the nation
$600 million in energy costs. That is enough energy to light 7 million
homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1 million cars.
Pauline Blackstock of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
wanted to make it even easier for her co-workers to switch to CFLs so
she helped organize an Energy Star Lighting Sale at the DEP headquarters
earlier this year. Several styles of Energy Star CFLs were sold, many
for only $1.00. Torchiere floor lamps and Tiffany and Euro style desks
lamps were also sold at prices ranging from $5.00 - $20.00. Participation
was phenomenal, with employees purchasing a total of 4,191 CFLs, 201
desk lamps and 477 torchieres for use at home. Savings on energy bills
from the use of these items for the first year is $119,000, and over
$1 million during operational lifetime. Another benefit of replacing
their lighting is that air pollution will be reduced - resulting in
the equivalent of removing 1,425 cars off the road for a year.
The lighting sale is a program of the CT Energy Efficiency Fund and
is funded by the Conservation Charge on customer electricity bills.
The State Office Building in Hartford and the Department of Social Services
also held similar Energy Star Lighting Sales. For more information,
please contact Lynn
Stoddard.
Fact Sheets Available on Automobiles and Wood Stoves
Driving a car has a significant impact on the environment, from
the resources used to manufacture of the vehicle, how we drive and how
much, to the final disposal of the vehicle. DEP's new fact sheet Reducing
your Environmental Footprint: Information on Purchasing a Vehicle, Driving,
and Maintenance Tips provides ideas on how you can reduce these
impacts.
Using wood stoves can significantly contribute to air pollution. The
new fact sheet Wood
Stoves provides tips if you are considering burning wood, including
are ways to reduce this pollution, such as using a certified stove and
burning cleaner and more efficiently. For more information, contact
Judy Prill.
George
MacDonald, the State of Maine's representative to the Northeast Recycling
Council, was recognized at NERC's fall conference for the time and energy
he has devoted to the organization over the years.