While Wilton’s first Zero Waste Week may be headed towards the finish line, that doesn’t mean that your sustainable practices should stop. This week GOOD Morning Wilton has highlighted activities in the schools and shared a primer on composting. But there may still be some lingering questions about recycling.

Do you know what is and isn’t recyclable? Do you need to separate recyclables? Do items need to be rinsed and cleaned? Is it ok to bag recyclables?

In the first of a series of recycling initiatives leading up to America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, the Town has released its Recycling in Wilton, CT fact sheet,which explains recycling requirements in Wilton and provides a variety of resources on how residents can reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The State of Connecticut now has a universal list published by the RecycleCT Foundation on what belongs in the recycling bin and what doesn’t.  Recycling in Wilton, CT provides a link to A Guide to Recycling: What’s In? What’s Out? and introduces the Recycle CT Wizard:  Can I Recycle It?, an on-line tool where users can type in the name of the waste item and will be told how to recycle or dispose of the item.

Recycling in Wilton, CT also provides a variety of resources and tools to help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle including items such as:

  • An educational video on why residents should not recycle their plastic bags at home (and should return clean and dry plastic bags to designated collection spots at stores).

  • Websites where residents can opt out of receiving junk mail, phone books, and catalogs.
  • Locations of venues where residents can donate unwanted goods including The Turnover Shop, Middlebrook School’s donation bin, and Goodwill Wilton Donation Station.
  • A list of recyclables that can be returned to retailers.
  • A website where residents can learn to compost at home to reduce trash output by composting food scraps and yard trimmings into compost.

Recycling is mandated by law in the State of Connecticut. Residents, businesses, non-profits, and all public and private agencies and institutions must recycle. The Town of Wilton practices single stream recycling, which is a collection system that mixes all recyclable paper fibers and containers together. Wilton residents who have a vehicle sticker may bring recyclables to the Wilton Transfer Station free of charge. Residents should visit the Wilton Department of Public Works – Transfer Station page on the Town Website for more information.