Passion to Action

Waste Free Greenwich is a grassroots nonprofit that engages, educates & empowers the Greenwich community to waste less.

We provide solutions at home, school & work through the 6Rs:

Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Repair, Recycle & Rot

Connecticut’s waste management system is at a critical point, resulting in increased fiscal costs & harmful impacts on the environment & public health.

Currently, 40% of Connecticut’s municipal solid is buried or incinerated out of state, as options for disposing of municipal solid waste are diminishing or increase in cost. With fewer alternatives and rapidly aging infrastructure, residents and municipal leaders can expect to see increasing disposal costs over time as options further decline.

In Greenwich, trash tonnages are increasing while recycling rates are declining. WinWaste Westchester where Greenwich’s waste is burned will be one of the oldest incinerators in the nation by 2029 when its contract with Westchester County will expire. With rising costs and future uncertainty, sustainable solutions are necessary now.

Waste Free Greenwich designed an implemented a Zero Waste Schools Programthat has eliminated cafeteria waste at Greenwich Public Schools by up to 80% through improved signage & sorting stations featuring liquid collection, streamlined recycling, food scrap recycling & food donation.

Waste Free Greenwich supports initiates to reduce household waste.

The voluntary municipal food scrap recycling program has diverted over 600,000 pounds of wasted food to compost.

The Save the Food Challenge provides tips & tools for meal planning, shopping & storage.

Waste Free Greenwich is leading outreach efforts to inform large generators of wasted food about the new Commercial Organics Recycling Law.

During the Food Matters Challenge, we teamed up with local restaurants to reduce food waste through prevention, donation & recycling.

Waste Free Greenwich, in collaboration with Greenwich Shellfish Commission and Greenwich Conservation Commission, support Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration (CORR) in their mission to reduce waste by recycling shells from restaurants and events to restore vital oyster reefs and marine habitats in the Long Island Sound.

Our signature events, like the ReThink Waste Fair, Great Pumpkin Rescue & Compost Giveback Day, increase awareness & inspire community action.

Other initiatives include composting workshops, author talks, documentary screenings panel discussions, educational presentations & much more!