Deep River residents utilizing the town's transfer station will soon be asked to sort their trash a bit differently. Starting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, residents will be asked to separate their food scraps from their household trash before bringing it to the transfer station.

According to a press release from First Selectman Angus McDonald, the Town is participating in the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) waste reduction program in an effort to reduce waste. Program organizers have distributed nearly $5 million to 18 participating towns and regions to support the development of food scrap collection and unit-based pricing programs. The program is at the recommendation of the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM), a coalition of more than 100 Connecticut municipalities working on ways to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling.

The Deep River Waste Reduction program, funded through a CCSMM DEEP grant, is a year-long pilot program. During that year, residents utilizing the town's transfer station will be given color-coded garbage and food scrap bags to sort their food scraps from household trash. Trash brought to the transfer station will then be transported to Quantum Biopower, an anaerobic digester in Southington. to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the garbage. Recycling of paper, cardboard, metal, and glass will continue to be recycled as usual.

According to the release, Connecticut is currently experiencing a solid waste disposal "crisis," as traditional options for disposal of municipal solid waste diminish or become more expensive. Municipalities statewide are anticipating increased costs for waste disposal, and leaders are optimistic that the CCSMM food scraps program may help reduce costs.

The most recent waste characterization study indicated that 41 percent of all trash is organic material, including both food scraps and yard waste. Food scraps alone represented 22 percent of all residential trash. The food scraps program separates those organic items, diverting them to alternative facilities for composting to create clean energy or to be processed into animal feed. Because food scraps are typically heavier than household trash, removing them from the waste stream is expected to reduce the costs municipalities pay for disposal.

Deep River's participation in the program has no cost for residents, and town officials said that 1,100 households are expected to participate.

"I am very pleased to have Deep River participate in this program. While this is just a first step, it is my hope that this program draws attention to the potential waste crisis here in Connecticut and results in an overall reduction in the amount of biodegradable trash that is thrown into the garbage. We are very excited for Deep River to be one of the leaders in Connecticut and play a part in this innovative, free, food-to-clean energy collection program. The DEEP SMM grant allows over 1,000 eligible households the opportunity to participate in a program that can have a positive and significant financial and environmental impact for our Town," First Selectman Angus McDonald said in a written statement.

Free color-coded garbage and food scrap bags will be distributed at the Deep River Town Hall on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. Bags will also be available at the Deep River Transfer Station starting on Wednesday, Jan. 25 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.