The Sustainable Essex Committee is working on a few initiatives this year. These are:
- Drive implementation and adoption of curb-side and/or municipal composting including management of food waste
- Initiate Semi-Annual Repair Cafes
- Continue and expand the SEED Series
- Participate in the protection and restoration of local CT River and Long Island Sound watersheds
A longer term project will focus on supporting local efforts to comply with the State’s energy agenda and electrification plan, including the “EV Connecticut” initiative.
With all projects we will strive to build and strengthen municipal processes to be more inclusive, cohesive, and representative of all community members, now and in the future. These system-wide, structural changes are an important step in creating open and equitable communities.
2021 Progress toward goals
We have seen a marked decrease in residential waste. This is incredibly important as we start to export our trash to landfills in other states
Part of our reduction of trash is the increased collection of food scraps at the transfer station. Keep it up, Essex residents!
We have seen a steady increase in the number of EVs in Essex. The free charging station at the Essex Post Office is used at least daily!
In our first event to conserve the Connecticut River watershed, we participated in the Source to Sea cleanup. A small, but hardy, group of volunteers picked up a lot of litter! We also had fun.