SAYT Update as of 11/5/2025: 

SAYT Program Termination and Sanitation District Updates Letter - December 2025

1. A decision was made by the Common Council on Nov. 3^rd to discontinue the SAYT (orange/green bag program) effective Jan 1st, 2025. At that time, residents will be provided with other options for food scrap/organics collection.

2.Through the end of the 2025 calendar year, use of the orange trash bags is voluntary. You may use any bag for trash except the green food scrap bags!  

3. Please keep using your green bags to sort out your organics! Green food-scrap bags will continue to be sorted from the regular trash at the waste facility through the end of the year. We hope to be able to continue collecting green bags of organics or have another program in place to replace this option in January.  

4.We will not be able to reimburse for orange trash bags that customers have left over at the end of the calendar year. Only purchase the number of bags you need for Nov and December.

5.Weekly recycling pickup in the Sanitation District has begun. You may now place your blue recycling carts out at the curb weekly.

7.You received a bill in November for this billing cycle that was based on the (reduced) SAYT program price. As this program will be discontinued, the rates will be reset with an effective date of Jan. 1^st 2026 and prorated supplemental bills will be sent out. The first bills that will be sent out that will reflect the full cost for one billing cycle will be in April for the May – Oct billing cycle.  

8. New Sanitation Cart Rates (billed every 6 months): 1 96 gallon trash container emptied 1X per week: $240; 1 65 gallon trash container emptied 1X per week: $215; 1 35 gallon (NEW!) trash container emptied 1X per week: $180. For other less-common rates, please call the Sanitation office. Customers who wish to adjust their cart size may call the Public Works office after 1/5/2026 to do this.

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Learn about The Sanitation District's Save As You Throw (SAYT) Food Scrap Co- Collection Program!

The Sanitation District uses a program called SAYT (Save As You Throw) in which cart customers pay for the trash they throw away by volume. This method is known as unit-based pricing. Customers pay for their trash collection by purchasing and using official City of Middletown color-coded bags for trash (orange) and food scraps (green). Both orange and green bags go in the same trash cart. Recycling is collected LOOSE (no plastic bags!) in the blue cart.

Residents and businesses that use a cart for trash must use the official City of Middletown orange and green bags for trash and food scraps!  

• Trash = orange bag. Before household trash can go into the cart, it must be placed inside an orange bag. Smaller household trash bags may be placed inside the orange bags. The outermost bag must be orange!
• Food scraps = green bag. Using green bags saves you money and helps the environment.  

• Customers put both orange and green bags in the same trash cart.  Please note: the green bags should not be put IN the orange bags.  They each stay separate, but both go in the trash cart.  

• After the carts are emptied by the trash truck, the material gets taken to a sorting facility, where the green bags get separated and taken to Quantum Biopower where the food gets turned into clean energy and compost.   

• Acceptable recyclables get placed LOOSE in the blue recycling cart. Recycling DOES NOT go in any bag.  

• Renters should check with their landlords about their trash service.  Every rental agreement can be different. Tenants are encouraged to check with their landlord as to whether they provide bags as part of their lease agreement.  

Learn more about the SAYT program here. 

Stay up to date on holidays, delays, events and scheduling with the Community Connect App.

If you have trouble downloading the app, let us know! We can help!  Having the app will help us stay in touch with you. Holidays, emergencies, and tips will all be communicated through the app.  You can also easily message us through the app too! 

Don't want to download an app?  Sign up for notifications to be sent directly to your email!  You can sign up for Sanitation District notifications here.  Choose "Sanitation District Communication".  

OR follow us on Facebook or Instagram for announcements, holidays and recycling and waste reduction tips! 

Where are Bags Available?

The official City of Middletown bags are available at the following locations: 

• Price Chopper, Guest Services Desk, 855 Washington St 
• Stop and Shop, 416 E. Main Street 
• Big Y, 850 S Main Street 
• Smith & Bishel, 155 Main St 
• Walgreens, 633 Washington St
• City Hall, Public Works, 245 Dekoven Drive, Room 210 
  • check, card or exact cash payment only at City Hall 
• Order Online HERE. 
• For bulk deliveries contact the Recycling Office  or call 860-638-4858.

What is the Cost of the Bags?

• Price per roll: Green  
  • 4 gal (counter-top size): $1.50 per roll of 10
  • 8 gal. (bucket size): $2.50 per roll of 10
• Price per roll: Orange (prices decreased as of Nov. 1, 2024)  
  • 33 gal (large/family size): $6.75 roll of 5
  • 15 gal (pilot size): $4.25 roll of 5
  • 8 gal (seniors & singles sized): $6.00 roll of 10

Bag Assistance  - Assistance is available for low-income families. Full details here. 

Is it Working?

Yes!  The SAYT program is making a difference. The Middletown Sanitation District reduced trash since beginning this system in November 2023. That means customers are recycling more, generating and sending less trash to landfills or incinerators!   

More details on how the program makes a difference and why it is important can be found here.  

Enforcement 

The City of Middletown is committed to providing services and developing programs to help our environment, our health, and our world. Managing our waste materials sustainably and economically is a vital part of this effort. The Sanitation District has always provided one of the lowest costs for trash and recycling in the State. It is important that customers follow the policies and procedures of the District to continue providing this service.   

To ensure this, the City may monitor trash and recycling containers for compliance with local and state trash and recycling regulations. If you have questions on compliance, call our office at 860-638-4858.   

FAQ About our SAYT Program 

Visit our FAQ section to answer questions about this program.  

More Questions ? 

More information on this program can be found at https://reducethetrashct.com/middletown/.