Recycling

Next Household Hazardous Waste Day is Saturday, July 13 in Stamford

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The next opportunity for Darien residents who want to get rid of their household hazardous waste — chemical cleaning materials and containers, pesticides, paint strippers (but not paint) and the like — in Stamford on Saturday, July 13. You can bring your hazardous stuff to Rippowam School at 381 High Ridge Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Getting there earlier usually means a shorter wait time. You also can bring your poisonous, environmentally harmful or just unhealthy items to other nearby towns if you’re unable to attend this event. Darien, Greenwich and Weston have already had their household hazardous waste days, but residents of those three towns and the ones listed below can go to each other’s waste days. Here’s the schedule:

Items Accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Days
From the Stamford city government website:

Aerosol Cans (not empty)
Ammonia
Antifreeze
Arts and Crafts Supplies
Bleaches
Brake Fluid
Cesspool Cleaners
Creosote
Drain Cleaners and Openers
Dry Cleaning Fluids
Engine and Radiator Flushes and Cleaners
Floor Cleaners
Gasoline
Herbicides
Home Heating Oil
Insect Sprays
Mercury Thermometers
Metal Polish
Moth Balls
Muriatic Acid
Old Chemistry Sets
Oven Cleaners
Paint Thinners
Pesticides
Photo Chemicals
Pool Chemicals
Rodent Killers
Rust Preventatives
Sealants
Smoke Detectors
Solvents
Transmission Fluid
Wood Preservatives

Electronics, propane tanks, motor oil can be recycled at the Katrina Mygatt Recycling Center.

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Monica McNally

How Darien’s and the State’s New Checkout Bag Rules Should Work, and When

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With a state law that would tax and eventually ban single-use plastic checkout bags now awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature and a Darien ordinance also restricting checkout bags, just passed by the RTM, the coming rules can appear confusing. On June 3, the state Senate joined the House to pass the legislation that would slap a 10-cent tax on single-use (that is, thinner) plastic bags on Aug. 1 and ban those bags 23 months later, on July 1, 2021. On Monday, the Darien Representative Town Meeting passed an ordinance (in an 86-to-2 vote) to ban plastic bags for larger stores by Jan. 1, 2020, and in all stores a year later.

Darien Reycycling Center
Free Compost

You Can Get Free Compost for Your Garden or Lawn at Darien Recycling Center on Saturday, June 8

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On Saturday, June 8, 2019, the Town of Darien is making high quality food scrap compost available to residents for FREE on a first come, first served basis! Simply bring a pail, bucket, or other receptacle to the food scrap drop-off area at the Darien Recycling Center, 126 Ledge Road, on Saturday and take some compost home! — an announcement from the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability

The Darien Recycling Center is open from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and a current permit (sticker) is required to enter the facility. In case of severe weather, the event will be on Saturday, June 15. This high-quality food scrap compost is provided in conjunction with the successful Town of Darien residential Food Scrap Recycling program, which was developed by the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Darien Scout Tag Sale 2019

Scout Tag Sale on Sunday, May 5 to Close Much of the Eastbound Lane on West Ave

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Darien Scouts are holding their giant, vastly organized, 47th annual tag sale on Sunday, May 5, from 8 a.m. (when bargain hunters will already be lined up) to 4 p.m. (when some still will be picking through the remaining items). Also lined up are cars as drivers look for parking or just try to pass by. At 7 a.m., police again are closing the eastbound lane (toward downtown) on West Avenue all the way from the Noroton Avenue intersection to the Andrew Shaw Memorial Scout Cabin itself, at 140 West Ave. “It is expected that full, two-way traffic will be restored on West Avenue by 6 p.m.,” a police announcement said. Big, Bargain-Filled

The 47th Annual Giant Tag Sale will be held rain or shine with thousands of items and a vast variety of them, including: indoor and outdoor furniture, sporting goods, art, antiques, collectibles, housewares, gardening equipment, lawnmowers, snow blowers, tools, baby & child gear, strollers, bikes, toys and games, electronics, books, linens, lamps, rugs, holiday items, etc., etc., etc.

Parents & Kids
Boy Scouts Giant Tag Sale 2019

Donations Wanted from April 14 to 27 for Darien Boy Scout Tag Sale

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The 47th Annual Darien Boy Scouts Giant Tag Sale is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m at the Scout Cabin at 140 West Ave. and we need your donations! — an announcement from the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust

Start your Spring cleaning now and let our Scouts help you reduce, reuse, and recycle your clutter! RELATED: Darien’s Bulk Pickup Begins April 9, Use the Town Website to Schedule Yours (March 30)

Wanted Items
We eagerly seek:

Art & antiques, collectibles, jewelry, instruments, foreign currency, indoor & outdoor furniture, lawnmowers, lawn & garden tools, hand & woodworking tools, snow blowers, electronics, stereo equipment, turntables, speakers, computers (Pentium IIIs & newer), flat screen TVs, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, records, housewares, lamps, linens, rugs, dishes & decorative items, sporting goods, baby/children’s items, books, games & toys, bikes, trikes & scooters, holiday items, and knick-knacks. Please help us by ensuring your donations are undamaged, clean, and in working order.

Government & Politics

Darien Christmas Trees Get Picked Up Starting Jan 2: Here’s the DPW Schedule

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From Jan. 2 through 30, neighborhood by neighborhood, Darien public works employees will be picking up Christmas trees left on the curb throughout town. Each neighborhood in town gets two periods for pickups. Here’s the schedule, as announced by the town Department of Public Works:

Some reminders from the DPW:

—Christmas trees must be at the curb by the first morning of the scheduled pick-up. —Christmas tree pick-up is conducted on public streets only.

Beyond Darien
Donations to Guatemala orphanage from Sacred Heart

Area College Ships 3,516 Pieces of Used Furniture to Guatemala Orphanage

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Sacred Heart University in Fairfield donated 15 shipping containers filled with more than 3,500 pieces of furniture from the Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence Hall to orphaned children in Guatemala this summer. — an announcement from Sacred Heart University

Through the nonprofit organization Asset 360, SHU donated used desks, chairs, dressers, wardrobes, bedframes and mattresses. Asset 360 is nonprofit environmental company that manages the responsible disposition of materials that are no longer needed. Joel Quintong, assistant dean of students, said that almost every year, one of the residence halls turns over its old furniture. It’s Hard to Give Away This Much Furniture Here
He said this year, he wanted to find a responsible means of removing it, rather than having it all end up in a landfill.

Recycling

REMINDER: You Can Bring Household Hazardous Waste to New Canaan Saturday, Sept 15

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Darien residents are invited to drop off their household hazardous waste in New Canaan on Saturday, Sept. 15, at no charge. Farther away, there’s a household hazardous waste drop-off event scheduled for the following Saturday, Sept. 22, in Westport. The final drop-off event available to Darienites for this year will be on Oct.

Recycling
Closet Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walk_In_Closet_-_Expandable_Closet_Rod_and_Shelf.jpg

The Amount of Clothing and Food We Buy and Don’t Use Is Enormous — and Likely More Than You Think

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Before you go out this week and decide to buy back-to-school clothes or other clothing, consider how much of that clothing will actually be worn. According to a survey in 20 countries, the vast majority of items will hang around in your closet or sit in your drawers for a year or more without being worn. 

Back-to-school clothes worn by growing kids may be an important exception (since kids do grow out of their clothing), so adults should be thinking about their own clothing purchases. In the last 12 months, 82 percent of the clothing Americans had previously bought and still have has not been used, according to an international study. Also, 24 percent of the food Americans buy ends up not being eaten. And we don’t realize that the waste is this high, according to a study released by a German moving and relocation company, Movinga.

Maritime Aquarium
Plastic Water

Maritime Aquarium Reduces Single-Use Plastics with Replacements and Recycling

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As a leader in Long Island Sound and ocean conservation, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is doing its part for the environment by significantly reducing its employ of single-use plastics. Gone from the Aquarium’s cafeteria and theater concessions stand are all drinking straws. Guests now have the option of boxed water or beverages in glass and aluminum containers, instead of in plastic bottles. __________

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

__________

Additionally, plastic silverware, coffee lids and food containers have been replaced by biodegradable substitutes. In the Aquarium’s gift shop, plush animals no longer are stuffed with plastic beads, toys no longer have cellophane wrapping, and purchases no longer go into plastic bags.

Recycling

Household Hazardous Waste Dropoffs in Greenwich THIS Saturday, Darien’s Is June 2

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On Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Town of Greenwich is holding the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day for both Greenwich residents and participating towns with proof of residency. If for any reason you don’t want to wait another month to get rid of your household hazardous waste in Darien, then drive to Greenwich on Saturday. Head to the Island Beach Parking Lot at 121 Arch St. It’s the lot just to the south of Interstate 95 at Exit 3. Here’s a Google Map and if you go to this Web page you’ll see where the collection will take place in the parking lot and where to enter (not shown: the inevitable line of cars, although you can see where the line will be).

Government & Politics
Household Hazardous Picture

Area Household Hazardous Waste Collections Begin Saturday in Weston, Darien’s Is June 2

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Darien residents can bring household hazardous waste to various collection events held in southwest Fairfield County starting Saturday, April 28 in Weston and continuing about once a month through October. The next weekend, on May 5, there will be another one in Greenwich (see schedule below). Darien’s own Household Hazardous Waste Day is on June 2 and takes place on the south side of the Noroton Heights Railroad Station (the side closest to Interstate 95) where area residents will need to use the Hollow Tree Ridge Road entrance. Darien residents can recycle paint by dropping it off at the Recycling Center — also known as the Dump or the town Transfer Station — so no paint is accepted for Darienites at the Darien household hazardous waste collection. But if you don’t have a dump sticker, you can still go to a household hazardous waste collection event in a nearby town.

Darien Reycycling Center
Darien Recycling tip

Quick Saturday Recycling Tip: How Bagging Can Trip Up Your Recycling Efforts

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The quality of Darien’s single-stream recyclables (i.e., level of contamination) is reportedly very good, except for one thing … _________

— an announcement from Darien Recycling Center

_________

… too many closed plastic bags! The sensors at City Carting’s sorting facility only work for items that are LOOSE; closed plastic bags are pulled out and thrown away. If you’re going to take the time to separate recyclables, please ensure that they actually get recycled and open/empty all plastic bags!!

Darien Reycycling Center
Best Buy Recycling

Quick Saturday Recycling Tip: What To Do With Cords, Cables, Rechargeable Batteries for Devices

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Kudos to Best Buy for making recycling so easy! Drop off wires/cords/cables, rechargeable batteries, and plastic bags as you enter the store. Inside, recycle ink & toner cartridges, video games/gadgets, music & movies, plus much more. Find out more here. ___________

This announcement is from the Darien Recycling Center on Facebook. Like that page on Facebook and you can get your tips directly, as soon as they come out, and keep informed on other recycling information.

Government & Politics
Alejandro Durán Vena Installation

Plastics and Microplastics in Long Island Sound: Panel Discussion, 3 PM Saturday in Greenwich

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In conjunction with its environmental art exhibition, “Hazardous Beauty,” Flinn Gallery presents a panel discussion: “Plastics and  Microplastics in our L.I. Sound on Saturday, April 7 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Greenwich Library’s Cole Auditorium. The panelists bring understanding of the polluting effects of plastics and microplastics in local waters. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A. Come early at 2:30 p.m. for the community reception. The panel discussion features:

Denise Savageau, Moderator and former Conservation Director, Greenwich
Jordan Christensen, NY Coord.