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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT THE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ROUND 2 GRANT FROM CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO IMPLEMENT CURBSIDE CO-COLLECTION OF FOOD SCRAPS USING UNIFORM COLLECTION BAGS, AND TO ENTER INTO ASSOCIATED AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING AND CARRY OUT THE ASSOCIATED GRANT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
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WHEREAS, Connecticut is facing a waste disposal crisis; and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford has resulted in Connecticut is sending about 860,000 tons (1.7 billion pounds) of trash out of state by truck and train; and
WHEREAS, the majority of trash remains in state and is burned at aging incineration facilities; and
WHEREAS, aging infrastructure has resulted in tipping fees for municipal solid waste crossing $120 per ton; and
WHEREAS, this represents an increase in cost of 50% since 2017; and
WHEREAS, the public health and environmental impact of incinerating and transporting trash is significant; and
WHEREAS, incineration releases harmful pollutants (particulate matter, heavy metals, and dioxins) which worsen asthma and respiratory illnesses and can increase risk of cancer, reproductive and developmental issues; and
WHEREAS, food scraps make up 20-25% of the waste stream that is burned; and
WHEREAS, diverting food scraps from the waste stream can help mitigate the financial risk of rising tipping fees, improve air quality, and provide soil-building nutrients; and
WHEREAS, food scraps can be co-collected with refuse by diverting the material into color-coded bags; and
WHEREAS, these bags can be sorted and made into compost and biogas; and
WHEREAS, co-collection systems are most effective when participants utilize standardized bags to collect refuse and food scraps; and
WHEREAS, such a standardized bag system will maximize the investment the City is making in a co-collection sorting facility at the New Haven transfer station; and
WHEREAS, co-collection with uniform bags can enable food scrap collection, reduced litter and worker injuries, and increased recycling and source reduction; and
WHEREAS, funding is available through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Sustainable Materials Management Round 2 Program to develop and implement source-separated organics programs and innovative waste management programs to more efficiently handle the state’s multiple waste streams.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven that the Mayor, on behalf of the City, is authorized to apply for and accept the grant mentioned herein from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor is authorized to execute said application for funding for an amount up to $2,989,257, to execute any revisions, amendments or modifications to said contract, and to sign any associated state agreements, agreements with contractors, and other documents, any of which may have a term of longer than one year and any state agreements that may include indemnification provisions, that the Mayor deems desirable or necessary, including any subsequent amendments to agreements, in order to accept grant funding and carry out the associated grant program activities.