Middletown is full of natural beauty. In order to preserve that beauty and the wonderful quality of life here, the City is taking action to be a leader in sustainability.

What is Sustainable CT and Why Participate?

City of Middletown achieves Silver Sustainable CT Certification

Sustainable CT, a nonprofit created in 2016-2017, is a voluntary certification program that recognizes towns for their efforts to be more sustainable. Each of the twelve categories listed below has actions and sub-actions that benefit the environment and the community. Municipalities can choose what goals are feasible to implement from the list of eligible actions, and what long-term projects to begin for a future certification cycle. Towns earn points for all completed and documented actions that took place within the given timeframe. With its three tiers of certification based on minimum number of points earned – bronze (200), silver (500), and gold (750) – towns are incentivized to complete as much as possible.

Twelve categories:

1. Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts
2. Thriving Local Economies
3. Well-Stewarded Land and Natural Resources
4. Vibrant and Creative Cultural Ecosystems
5. Dynamic and Resilient Planning
6. Clean and Diverse Transportation Systems and Choices
7. Renewable and Efficient Energy Infrastructure and Operations
8. Inclusive Engagement, Communication, and Education
9. Strategic Materials Management
10. Optimal Health and Wellness Opportunities
11. Healthy, Efficient, and Diverse Housing
12. Effective, Compassionate Homeless Prevention
13. OPTIONAL: Innovative Strategies and Practices (Other)

The full list of actions is available here: Actions (sustainablect.org)

Being certified through Sustainable CT is a point of pride for our town. Our silver certification recognizes that Middletown is a leader in sustainability in many different areas. The certification requires completing at least one action in every category; it is not enough to only invest in renewable energy, support local businesses, or protect open spaces. Middletown is well-rounded in its support of the environment, its residents, infrastructure, economy, and culture. Due to its three-year recertification cycle, Sustainable CT holds towns accountable for continually pursuing new sustainable initiatives. Most actions will only give credit for work done in the last three years, which means towns cannot use the same proof over and over again. Municipalities have to implement new infrastructure, new changes, new progress to stay certified. Sustainable CT provides a roadmap to strengthen our town’s resilience against hotter temperatures, more aggressive storms, rising trash disposal costs, invasive species in our ecosystem, and a rocky housing market. It ensures connection with the youth in our community, support for the arts, keeping pedestrians safe, hearing feedback from residents, and sustaining our ever-growing downtown business district. Our complete application from 2023 is attached below.

Middletown_-_Silver_-_Fall_-_2023.pdf (sustainablect.org)

The Sustainable Middletown group is currently working towards Climate Leader Designation and Gold certification status.  If you are interested in assisting with these efforts, please contact recycling@middletownct.gov. 

What's Happening at the Landfill?

Middletown's landfill has been closed since 1991. The City's Recycling Center sits at its base and the capped landfill currently has a recreational trail leading to the top for stunning views.  Currently, the City is working with Verogy to create a solar array to produce 1,114 megawatt hours of clean energy.   The project's annual production will be equivalent to the meet the needs of 103 homes' electricity use for a year.  Construction is slated to be completed by the end of 2024.  The recreational trail remains open during this time.  

November 21, 2024 Middletown Celebrates Completion of Landfill Solar Project

Energy and Sustainability

The City of Middletown's Clean Energy Task Force has undertaken a number of projects to reduce our city's energy consumption and costs, and to promote renewable energy generation. They have also championed the Sustainable CT effort in Middletown.  The group achieved Silver Status in December 2019 and  members participated in re-certification in 2023.  

Middletown Waste and Recycling Tonnages

Connecticut is facing a waste crisis. We have limited capacity to process trash in our small state and with the recent closure of the Hartford trash to energy facility, more trash is being shipped out of state (about 860,000 tons annually). This puts our residents and businesses at risk for higher costs, as we are subject to pay the prices out-of-state landfills set. 

Currently, the average CT resident generates 749 lbs of trash per year. If every resident produced 517 lbs per year instead, we could avoid sending any trash out of state, handling locally instead. Middletown is leading the state, well on our way to meeting this goal.  The City has promoted waste reduction, organics diversion and recycling for many, many years.  However, our waste diversion rate has remained stagnant.  However, with the implementation of the Save As You Throw (SAYT) program in the City Sanitation District, we have reduced the amount of material going to waste.   

With this program, the average Middletown Sanitation District resident produces just 548 lbs of trash per year!

This is a result of the SAYT program, adopted in 2023. In 2021, the per capita average in Middletown was 759. That's a near 30% reduction in waste! Only two other towns in Connecticut have lower waste, both of which use similar programs to Middletown's SAYT. 

Not only is Middletown doing its part to meet state goals for the economy and environment, but this program will help protect the City from the rising costs of trash. The less we generate, the less we pay in disposal costs. 

Quick Facts: 

• Current state average per capita: 749
• Amount of trash that is being sent out of state: 860,000 tons/year
• Per capita goal to meet in-state disposal capacity: 517
• SAYT Middletown per capita: 548

Food Scrap Recycling

The City offers many different options for residents and businesses for  food scrap recycling.    In addition, Middletown is partnering with 2 local businesses and Middletown High School to test a food scrap recycling device for feasibility, usefulness and cost savings. The Fresh Monkee, Perk on Main and MHS Food Services were selected for this pilot project and have volunteered to test a Food Mill device which will dehydrate and grind their food scraps into grounds that are significantly lighter and have only a fraction of the volume. This material would otherwise be thrown away or sent to costly food scrap recycling service. 

The goal of this project is to see if this kind of device can help in reducing the volume of food scraps generated in different larger-scale establishments as an option for locations that do not have access to food scrap recycling service, or on-site composting.

The end product after milling is being handled differently in all three cases. Perk on Main is converting their grounds to compost with Blue Earth Compost service. Middletown High School is diverting their grounds to the Agricultural Sciences Department who will add the grounds to their compost pile. The Fresh Monkee has partnered with Long Lane Farm at Wesleyan who is also using the grounds in their compost pile.

Recycling Events and Programs

Whether its learning how to compost, shredding sensitive documents or attending the Repair Cafe, the City of Middletown offers several different types of recycling, composting and waste reduction programs throughout the year.   We are trying to teach residents, businesses, and visitors to reduce their waste, recycle more and learn more ways to live healthy and sustainably.      

Recycling Services

Learn about the Middletown Recycling Center, curbside recycling, electronics recycling, woodchip deliveries and other recycling programs offered by the City.  

Pollinator Pathways 

Middletown Pollinator Pathway strives to encourage property owners in the Middletown area to manage their landscapes organically and with native plantings, so these properties can connect parks and preserves, creating crucial corridors for wildlife. 

 Members meet as needed to plan public events and support related efforts to our mission. These activities include speaker forums, public information kiosks, planting parties, and advocating for pollinator friendly landscapes in public places. 

Middletown Pollinator Plots 

Pollinator Properties Map

Organic Lawn Care

Traditional lawn-care fertilizers and treatments contain dangerous chemicals that can harm our environment, our health and the health of our pets. This is of special concern to Middletown, considering our close proximity to the Connecticut River. Project Green Lawn has been working for several years to educate residents and businesses about organic lawns and how to make the switch.

Invasive Species 

Learn more about invasive plant species (PDF) and Invasive Jumping Worms (PDF) and what to do if you find them in your yard.  

Transportation

The City of Middletown is taking important steps to save costs and reduce pollution by considering more fuel efficient vehicles. Read the resolution (PDF).

Storm water Management Resources

Clean water is important to all of us. Controlling the pollutants that enter our waterways is critical to our health and our environment.  Learn about storm water runoff and what we all can do to reduce the amount of pollution entering our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.  

EPA Urban Runoff (PDF)

Don't Feed the Wildlife (PDF)

Long Island Sound Brochure (PDF)

Storm water and Household Hazardous Waste Brochure (PDF)

More information found here.

Low Impact Development 

Low Impact development refers to systems and practices that minimize the effect of urban development on the way water flows or infiltrates throughout an ecosystem.   More information can be found in this LID informational brochure (PDF).

Middletown's Government Participation Guide (PDF)

The City of Middletown's Sustainability Team and Wesleyan Sustainability teamed up to develop this guide to help residents learn about, and get involved, in Middletown's local government. Want to make an impact? Learn about all the different local commissions and committees and how decisions are made.  Local government makes many decisions that directly impact residents and the community.  If you want to make a difference, this is a great way to learn how to get started!