Author: Devin James

Sen. Marx Welcomes $333,000 in Waste Reduction Grants for Montville, Old Saybrook

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Marx Welcomes $333,000 in Waste Reduction Grants for Montville, Old Saybrook

Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) today welcomed a total of more than $333,000 in state grants to support waste reduction in the towns of Montville and Old Saybrook.

The grants, awarded through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Management program, include $161,032 for Montville and $172,018 for Old Saybrook to support the development of a transfer station-based and unit-based pricing system and food scraps recycling program.

“We can’t keep trucking our trash to other states and expect costs to stay manageable,” Senator Marx said. “These grants will help Montville and Old Saybrook cut waste, invest in local solutions, and give residents more control over what they’re paying. That’s smart policy that makes sense for our communities.”

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Governor Ned Lamont said in announcing the grants today. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

Connecticut is facing a growing waste crisis. With the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) in Hartford, municipalities have fewer disposal options located within Connecticut’s borders, causing communities to rely increasingly on trucking waste to landfills in other states.

Restoring Connecticut’s self-sufficiency in waste management is critical for a reliable waste system and long-term stability in tipping fees. Many municipalities and regional organizations are taking positive steps to increase diversion and invest in waste management infrastructure, and DEEP has been supporting those efforts through multiple grant opportunities, including the first round of the SMM program and the Materials Management Infrastructure grant program.

The SMM grant program helps municipalities and regional entities respond to this crisis by providing funds to develop and implement a wide variety of waste diversion and reduction programs and initiatives.

These programs and initiatives include unit-based pricing systems operated at municipal transfer stations; decentralized food scrap collection units; technical assistance for the startup of an aerated static pile composting facility; curbside food scraps collection; regional composting enhancements paired with an in-vessel composter installation; technical support for the expansion of a regional waste authority’s operations; and a major urban initiative to launch curbside co-collection of municipal solid waste and food scraps within a unit-based pricing system.

The first round of the SMM grant program resulted in more than 1,000 tons of waste diverted across participating municipalities.

Sen. Needleman Celebrates Nearly $200K in Waste Reduction Funding for Haddam, Old Saybrook

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Needleman Celebrates Nearly $200K in Waste Reduction Funding for Haddam, Old Saybrook

Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) today welcomed a total of nearly $200,000 in state grants to support waste reduction in the towns of Haddam and Old Saybrook.

The grants, awarded through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Management program, include $21,940 for Haddam to support the deployment of satellite food scrap collection units and $172,018 for Old Saybrook to support the development of a transfer station-based and unit-based pricing system and food scraps recycling program.

“As both a state senator and a local official, I know firsthand how challenging waste management has become for Connecticut towns,” Senator Needleman said. “These grants give Haddam and Old Saybrook tools to tackle rising disposal costs while keeping waste decisions local. Food scrap recycling and unit-based pricing work because they reduce what goes to the landfill and give residents more control over their costs.”

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Governor Ned Lamont said in announcing the grants today. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

Connecticut is facing a growing waste crisis. With the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) in Hartford, municipalities have fewer disposal options located within Connecticut’s borders, causing communities to rely increasingly on trucking waste to landfills in other states.

Restoring Connecticut’s self-sufficiency in waste management is critical for a reliable waste system and long-term stability in tipping fees. Many municipalities and regional organizations are taking positive steps to increase diversion and invest in waste management infrastructure, and DEEP has been supporting those efforts through multiple grant opportunities, including the first round of the SMM program and the Materials Management Infrastructure grant program.

The SMM grant program helps municipalities and regional entities respond to this crisis by providing funds to develop and implement a wide variety of waste diversion and reduction programs and initiatives.

These programs and initiatives include unit-based pricing systems operated at municipal transfer stations; decentralized food scrap collection units; technical assistance for the startup of an aerated static pile composting facility; curbside food scraps collection; regional composting enhancements paired with an in-vessel composter installation; technical support for the expansion of a regional waste authority’s operations; and a major urban initiative to launch curbside co-collection of municipal solid waste and food scraps within a unit-based pricing system.

The first round of the SMM grant program resulted in more than 1,000 tons of waste diverted across participating municipalities.

SENATOR OSTEN WELCOMES STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN MARLBOROUGH AND MONTVILLE

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR OSTEN WELCOMES STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN MARLBOROUGH AND MONTVILLE

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed over a quarter-million dollars in state grants to support waste reduction in those two towns.

Both grants – $108,621 for Marlborough and $161,032 for Montville – will be used to support the development of a transfer station-based unit-based pricing system and food scraps recycling program.

“Local towns are facing rising trash disposal costs right now because of a combination of factors, including a lack of local disposal options in Connecticut and the collapse of the recyclables market world-wide. They have to put on their thinking caps and find new ways to handle waste disposal, and that’s what these grants will help them do,” Sen. Osten said.

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Governor Ned Lamont said in announcing the grants today. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

Connecticut is facing a growing waste crisis. With the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) in Hartford, municipalities have fewer disposal options located within Connecticut’s borders, causing communities to rely increasingly on trucking waste to landfills in other states.

Restoring Connecticut’s self-sufficiency in waste management is critical for a reliable waste system and long-term stability in tipping fees. Many municipalities and regional organizations are taking positive steps to increase diversion and invest in waste management infrastructure, and DEEP has been supporting those efforts through multiple grant opportunities, including the first round of the SMM program and the Materials Management Infrastructure grant program.

The SMM grant program helps municipalities and regional entities respond to this crisis by providing funds to develop and implement a wide variety of waste diversion and reduction programs and initiatives. These programs and initiatives include unit-based pricing systems operated at municipal transfer stations; decentralized food scrap collection units; technical assistance for the startup of an aerated static pile composting facility; curbside food scraps collection; regional composting enhancements paired with an in-vessel composter installation; technical support for the expansion of a regional waste authority’s operations; and a major urban initiative to launch curbside co-collection of municipal solid waste and food scraps within a unit-based pricing system.

The first round of the SMM grant program resulted in more than 1,000 tons of waste diverted across participating municipalities

Senators Looney & Duff Call on CT Republicans to Join Them in Urging Trump to Release Over $5 Billion in SNAP Funding

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney & Duff Call on CT Republicans to Join Them in Urging Trump to Release Over $5 Billion in SNAP Funding

HARTFORD – Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D–New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D–Norwalk) today called on Connecticut Republicans to join Democrats in demanding that the Trump administration immediately release over $5 billion in federal reserve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to sustain the program during the ongoing Republican federal shutdown.

The Republican-led U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would not tap into the SNAP contingency reserve to support the program during the shutdown. This action is jeopardizing food assistance for more than 360,000 Connecticut residents and over 42 million Americans nationwide.

“Putting food on the table is a moral issue, not a cynical political calculation,” said Senator Looney. “The existence of this fund underscores that we are dealing with a manufactured crisis and that the federal government is willing to see people suffer despite having the resources to mitigate that, even during a shutdown. Connecticut families rely on SNAP to get through tough times. If the Trump administration refuses to act, Republicans here in Connecticut should have the courage to speak up and put people ahead of politics.”

“This is the first time in our country’s history that the President of the United States is willfully starving his own people,” said Senator Duff. “Trump is holding hungry families hostage to his chaos. There is over $5 billion sitting in reserve that could be released today but instead is being used to pressure Democrats to agree to Trump’s health insurance rate hikes. We call on our Republican colleagues to join us in demanding that the President release these funds immediately.”

Looney and Duff noted that Governor Ned Lamont has already announced $3 million in emergency state aid to Connecticut Foodshare to help fill the gap but said that “state funds can only go so far.”

“The federal government has the ability and the responsibility to prevent a hunger crisis,” the Senate leaders said in a joint statement. “This is a moment for Connecticut Republicans to show leadership and to demand action from their party’s standard-bearer in Washington.”

In a memo to state agencies, the USDA claimed that it cannot use the SNAP contingency reserve because those funds are only available to supplement benefits “when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits.” USDA argues that because Congress has not enacted a fiscal year 2026 appropriation, there are no existing benefits to supplement, and therefore, the contingency fund cannot be accessed.

However, that interpretation contradicts USDA’s own previously published shutdown contingency plan, which explicitly stated that the multi-year reserve funds “are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.” The plan further noted that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue” during a government shutdown. Legal and policy experts say the agency retains complete discretion to use the reserve to maintain operations and prevent a lapse in benefits, particularly given that the funds were established precisely to ensure continuity of essential nutrition programs in emergencies. Prior administrations—Republican and Democratic alike—have consistently used available funding sources, including the reserve, to prevent any lapse in benefits during shutdowns including the 2018–2019 Trump-era shutdown.

The issue of SNAP funding is a bipartisan one. According to CT Data Haven, Connecticut’s 11 Republican state senators will see 11,364 families in their districts lose $2.6 million a month in federal SNAP funding – nearly $86,000 a day.

Senator              Families Affected  

Martin                 1,785

Sampson             1,600

Somers                1,232

Perillo                 1,121

Gordon                1,088

Cicarella              1,029

Harding                  998

Kissel                     877

Berthel                   711

Fazio                      517

Hwang                    406

Senators Looney & Duff Call on CT Republicans to Join Them in Urging Trump to Release Over $5 Billion in SNAP Funding

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney & Duff Call on CT Republicans to Join Them in Urging Trump to Release Over $5 Billion in SNAP Funding

HARTFORD – Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D–New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D–Norwalk) today called on Connecticut Republicans to join Democrats in demanding that the Trump administration immediately release over $5 billion in federal reserve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to sustain the program during the ongoing Republican federal shutdown.

The Republican-led U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would not tap into the SNAP contingency reserve to support the program during the shutdown. This action is jeopardizing food assistance for more than 360,000 Connecticut residents and over 42 million Americans nationwide.

“Putting food on the table is a moral issue, not a cynical political calculation,” said Senator Looney. “The existence of this fund underscores that we are dealing with a manufactured crisis and that the federal government is willing to see people suffer despite having the resources to mitigate that, even during a shutdown. Connecticut families rely on SNAP to get through tough times. If the Trump administration refuses to act, Republicans here in Connecticut should have the courage to speak up and put people ahead of politics.”

“This is the first time in our country’s history that the President of the United States is willfully starving his own people,” said Senator Duff. “Trump is holding hungry families hostage to his chaos. There is over $5 billion sitting in reserve that could be released today but instead is being used to pressure Democrats to agree to Trump’s health insurance rate hikes. We call on our Republican colleagues to join us in demanding that the President release these funds immediately.”

Looney and Duff noted that Governor Ned Lamont has already announced $3 million in emergency state aid to Connecticut Foodshare to help fill the gap but said that “state funds can only go so far.”

“The federal government has the ability and the responsibility to prevent a hunger crisis,” the Senate leaders said in a joint statement. “This is a moment for Connecticut Republicans to show leadership and to demand action from their party’s standard-bearer in Washington.”

In a memo to state agencies, the USDA claimed that it cannot use the SNAP contingency reserve because those funds are only available to supplement benefits “when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits.” USDA argues that because Congress has not enacted a fiscal year 2026 appropriation, there are no existing benefits to supplement, and therefore, the contingency fund cannot be accessed.

However, that interpretation contradicts USDA’s own previously published shutdown contingency plan, which explicitly stated that the multi-year reserve funds “are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.” The plan further noted that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue” during a government shutdown. Legal and policy experts say the agency retains complete discretion to use the reserve to maintain operations and prevent a lapse in benefits, particularly given that the funds were established precisely to ensure continuity of essential nutrition programs in emergencies. Prior administrations—Republican and Democratic alike—have consistently used available funding sources, including the reserve, to prevent any lapse in benefits during shutdowns including the 2018–2019 Trump-era shutdown.

The issue of SNAP funding is a bipartisan one. According to CT Data Haven, Connecticut’s 11 Republican state senators will see 11,364 families in their districts lose $2.6 million a month in federal SNAP funding – nearly $86,000 a day.

Senator              Families Affected  

Martin                 1,785

Sampson             1,600

Somers                1,232

Perillo                 1,121

Gordon                1,088

Cicarella              1,029

Harding                  998

Kissel                     877

Berthel                   711

Fazio                      517

Hwang                    406

SEN. CABREREA HELPS BREAK GROUND ON 180 NEW APARTMENTS IN NAUGATUCK

Posted on by Devin James

SEN. CABREREA HELPS BREAK GROUND ON 180 NEW APARTMENTS IN NAUGATUCK

Senator Cabrera (second from right) breaking ground on the Pennrose/Cloud Company development in Naugatuck on October 28, 2025

NAUGATUCK – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today helped break ground on the construction of 180 new mixed-income apartments at the corner of Maple Street and Old Firehouse Road that are being built in part with state funding and which will give both local residents and businesses an economic boost.

The vacant, 7-acre parcel will see the first 60 apartments open next Fall with one- and two-bedroom apartments available at 30%, 50% and 80% of the area median income along with market-rate units. The apartments will also feature 3,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space for local businesses.

At the same time, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is building a new state-of-the-art train station nearby to be completed in 2027.

“I remember a year ago riding around with Mayor Hess, and he showed me this spot and he talked about the city’s plans for it. At the time, I thought it would be great if only it could be accomplished, and here we are breaking ground and surrounded by progress,” Sen. Cabrera said. “I think it’s important to stay positive and work together, and that’s how we make progress for everybody.”

SENATORS MAHER & KUSHNER WELCOME STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN BETHEL, NEWTON, RIDGEFIELD AND KENT

Posted on by Devin James

SENATORS MAHER & KUSHNER WELCOME STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN BETHEL, NEWTON, RIDGEFIELD AND KENT

State Senators Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) and Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed $1.5 million in state grants to support waste reduction in these four towns.

The state awarded $1,542,527 to the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority to support the deployment of additional satellite food scraps collection units, a new aerated static pile composting system in Bethel, the expansion of the aerated static pile composting system in Newtown, and waste diversion enhancements and improvements in Ridgefield and Kent.

The HRRA is a regional, governmental, waste management and recycling authority serving 14 municipalities in western Connecticut and a population of over 266,000 people.  HRRA municipalities include Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Weston, Wilton.

“Composting through food scrap recycling is the way of the future – it reduces waste, creates a highly usable end product, and cuts down on costs,” said Sen. Maher. “I’m excited to see the support and growth of this effort in our area as a model for the state.”

“Waste disposal has nearly reached the level of unaffordability, so we have to be creative in our approaches to reducing and re-using the household trash that keeps being generated,” Sen. Kushner said. “I was proud to support these grants and I’m glad to see some of them  coming back to the region to help taxpayers and the environment.”

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Governor Ned Lamont said in announcing the grants today. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

“Separating organic materials from the trash should be thought of as a resource, not a waste. More food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in our everyday trash.  Compost added to gardens, construction sites, and poor soils makes great things happen,” the HRRA says on its website. “The HRRA is working to provide organics recycling programs throughout the region as a public service.  Our goals include reduction of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon, and improving ecosystem health.”

Connecticut is facing a growing waste crisis. With the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford, municipalities have fewer disposal options located within Connecticut’s borders, causing communities to rely increasingly on trucking waste to landfills in other states.

Restoring Connecticut’s self-sufficiency in waste management is critical for a reliable waste system and long-term stability in tipping fees. Many municipalities and regional organizations are taking positive steps to increase diversion and invest in waste management infrastructure, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been supporting those efforts through multiple grant opportunities, including the first round of the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) grant program and the Materials Management Infrastructure grant program.

The SMM grant program helps municipalities and regional entities respond to this crisis by providing funds to develop and implement a wide variety of waste diversion and reduction programs and initiatives. These programs and initiatives include unit-based pricing systems operated at municipal transfer stations; decentralized food scrap collection units; technical assistance for the startup of an aerated static pile composting facility; curbside food scraps collection; regional composting enhancements paired with an in-vessel composter installation; technical support for the expansion of a regional waste authority’s operations; and a major urban initiative to launch curbside co-collection of municipal solid waste and food scraps within a unit-based pricing system.

The first round of the SMM grant program resulted in more than 1,000 tons of waste diverted across participating municipalities

SENATORS MAHER & KUSHNER WELCOME STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN BETHEL, NEWTON, RIDGEFIELD AND KENT

Posted on by Devin James

SENATORS MAHER & KUSHNER WELCOME STATE FUNDING FOR WASTE REDUCTION IN BETHEL, NEWTON, RIDGEFIELD AND KENT

State Senators Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) and Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed $1.5 million in state grants to support waste reduction in these four towns.

The state awarded $1,542,527 to the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority to support the deployment of additional satellite food scraps collection units, a new aerated static pile composting system in Bethel, the expansion of the aerated static pile composting system in Newtown, and waste diversion enhancements and improvements in Ridgefield and Kent.

The HRRA is a regional, governmental, waste management and recycling authority serving 14 municipalities in western Connecticut and a population of over 266,000 people.  HRRA municipalities include Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Weston, Wilton.

“Composting through food scrap recycling is the way of the future – it reduces waste, creates a highly usable end product, and cuts down on costs,” said Sen. Maher. “I’m excited to see the support and growth of this effort in our area as a model for the state.”

“Waste disposal has nearly reached the level of unaffordability, so we have to be creative in our approaches to reducing and re-using the household trash that keeps being generated,” Sen. Kushner said. “I was proud to support these grants and I’m glad to see some of them  coming back to the region to help taxpayers and the environment.”

“With these grants, we’re continuing to support municipalities in their efforts to identify solutions to rising waste disposal costs that work for their communities,” Governor Ned Lamont said in announcing the grants today. “The smart and sustainable programs these grants will support give residents and municipalities more control over their disposal costs.”

“Separating organic materials from the trash should be thought of as a resource, not a waste. More food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in our everyday trash.  Compost added to gardens, construction sites, and poor soils makes great things happen,” the HRRA says on its website. “The HRRA is working to provide organics recycling programs throughout the region as a public service.  Our goals include reduction of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon, and improving ecosystem health.”

Connecticut is facing a growing waste crisis. With the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford, municipalities have fewer disposal options located within Connecticut’s borders, causing communities to rely increasingly on trucking waste to landfills in other states.

Restoring Connecticut’s self-sufficiency in waste management is critical for a reliable waste system and long-term stability in tipping fees. Many municipalities and regional organizations are taking positive steps to increase diversion and invest in waste management infrastructure, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been supporting those efforts through multiple grant opportunities, including the first round of the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) grant program and the Materials Management Infrastructure grant program.

The SMM grant program helps municipalities and regional entities respond to this crisis by providing funds to develop and implement a wide variety of waste diversion and reduction programs and initiatives. These programs and initiatives include unit-based pricing systems operated at municipal transfer stations; decentralized food scrap collection units; technical assistance for the startup of an aerated static pile composting facility; curbside food scraps collection; regional composting enhancements paired with an in-vessel composter installation; technical support for the expansion of a regional waste authority’s operations; and a major urban initiative to launch curbside co-collection of municipal solid waste and food scraps within a unit-based pricing system.

The first round of the SMM grant program resulted in more than 1,000 tons of waste diverted across participating municipalities

SEN. MAHER RELEASES STATEMENT FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW CHILD ADVOCATE

Posted on by Devin James

SEN. MAHER RELEASES STATEMENT FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW CHILD ADVOCATE

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton), Senate Chair of the Committee On Children, issued the following statement in response to the announcement of Christina  Ghio to become the new Child Advocate for the state of Connecticut:

“The Child Advocate is one of Connecticut’s most important protectors of our youngest and most vulnerable, and the holder of the office must be dedicated and determined in supporting their needs. With years of experience as associate child advocate and her service as acting child advocate, not to mention her decades of experience in law representing children’s issues, Christina Ghio has my full confidence as she steps into this new official role and continues advocating for those who need a voice.”

Senator Lopes Receives CWWA Legislator of the Year Award

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Lopes Receives CWWA Legislator of the Year Award

State Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain) has received this years Connecticut Water Works Association Legislator of the Year Award. Senator Lopes was selected for the award in recognition of his advocacy on issues to protect the safety and quality of Connecticut’s water resources.

“I am honored to receive the Connecticut Water Works Association Legislator of the Year Award,” said Sen. Lopes. “Protecting the safety and quality of our state’s water is about ensuring every family in Connecticut has access to clean, safe drinking water. This award is an acknowledgement of the hard work we’ve done together to safeguard our water resources, and I remain committed to preserving and protecting what is one of our most valuable assets as it is a basic human need.”

Senator Lopes was presented the award at CWWA’s Annual Fall Conference. He was recognized for his advocacy for enhancing source water protection and addressing concerns regarding PFAS in consumer products. In addition, the award recognized Sen. Lopes’ commitment to ensuring that the state’s water utilities may continue to provide customers with safe, high quality drinking water at a reasonable cost.