How and Why Summer 2026 Is the Time to Recycle Better

Summer is a great time to enjoy cookouts, gardening, and outdoor activities—but it can also be a season of increased waste. By adopting a few simple habits, you can reduce the amount of trash created and help conserve resources for future generations.

When shopping, consider environmental impact, because mindful purchasing is a simple way to reduce waste. Choose durable, reusable items, buy only what’s needed, and reuse when possible.

Easily Reduce Usage of Single-Use Products - When heading to the beach, a picnic, or a neighborhood gathering, bring reusable food and beverage containers, utensils, and dishes instead of disposable ones. Items like plastic utensils, straws, cups, and novelty toys are often used for only a few minutes before being thrown away, where they’ll stay in landfills or pollute waterways. Tip: Create a “party utensil kit” using stainless steel forks, spoons, and knives you already own or buy from a thrift or discount store. Keep them in a container, ready to grab when needed. They'll last for years, save money over time, and eliminate the need for disposable utensil packs that often include unused items and excessive plastic packaging.

Compost Food Scraps - Summer means more fresh fruits, vegetables, and outdoor meals, making it an ideal time to start composting. A backyard compost pile is great for fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, cardboard egg cartons, and more. Mix in leaves and/or grass clippings to speed decomposition, and soon you’ll have nutrient-rich soil for your yard. Not interested in composting at home? Orange residents can bring food scraps to the compost collection program at the Orange Transfer Station & Recycling Center. Accepted materials include fruits and vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, meat, seafood, leftovers, and spoiled food.

See Orangerecycles.com for more about composting at home or the transfer station. In both cases, composting saves Orange money on waste disposal.

Dispose of Plastic Bags Correctly – Spring and summer gardening and yardwork bags (those containing mulch, fertilizer, topsoil, seed and other landscaping materials) along with black plastic plant containers, are NOT recyclable under any circumstances and must go in the trash. Even if these bags or containers have a recycling symbol, they are not accepted for recycling in CT and should be thrown away.

General reminder: do not put any plastic bags or films in household recycling bins or the mixed recyclables bin at the transfer station. Instead, bring clean, dry items such as grocery bags, bread bags, zip-top bags, bubble wrap, and plastic packaging wrap to the red shed at the Transfer Station & Recycling Center or designated collection bins at local stores.

When in Doubt, Check First – If there’s an item you’re unsure is recyclable, check the Recycling Wizard at RecycleCT.com or visit OrangeRecycles.com before putting it a recycling bin. "Wishcycling"—putting items in recycling hoping they're recyclable—can contaminate an entire truckload, causing it to be rejected and sent to the trash, which increases disposal costs for Orange and diminishes environmental efforts.

New Recycling Company Handling Pick-ups in Orange – The contract for residential recycling pick-up was up for renewal, so the Board of Selectman reviewed bids from the existing provider, City Carting, and three other companies. Enviro Express, Inc., of Bridgeport was selected, as they were the lowest bidder and will provide the same level of service. Starting July 1, your recycling pick-up day will not change, however, the time of day may be different than it has been. Any questions, please contact Public Works at 203-891-4712.

Simple habits like using fewer disposable products, composting food scraps, and recycling correctly help conserve resources and lower costs. These actions also teach children environmental stewardship and help create a cleaner, healthier community for future generations.

Visit recyclect.com and facebook.com/ORCinCT for more recycling guidelines and best practices.

This article was first published on theorangetimes.com.