Waste Assistance Connecticut • CET (original) (raw)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will assistance cost my organization?

Our assistance is available at no-cost to businesses in Connecticut. CET is under contract with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to provide this support.

Do you provide on-site assistance?

Depending on the business needs, we can provide a site visit or assistance via phone and email. This includes businesses or institutions that are subject to Connecticut’s mandatory recycling or commercial organics recycling laws. Contact us so we can assess your specific needs today!

How do I get started with assistance?

Contact one of our recycling experts at 888-410-3827opens phone dialer or click here. We’ll ask you about your organization, the materials you throw away, and your waste reduction or diversion goals. Depending on your needs, our customer care professionals may connect you to resources immediately or schedule a site visit with an Environmental Specialist whenever it is most convenient for you.

What happens during a site visit?

During the site visit, an Environmental Specialist will learn more about your operations and develop a list of potential solutions. They can also review your current waste removal contract to identify potential opportunities for efficiency and cost savings. After the site visit, we will conduct research on your behalf and deliver a report with customized recommendations for your organization.

Will my business get in trouble for not recycling?

No, CET is a non-regulatory entity that helps businesses and institutions comply with Connecticut’s mandatory recycling and commercial organics recycling laws and reduce the amount of materials going into the trash. We’re here to listen to your needs, answer questions, and help you achieve your goals.

How can I get added to the list of service providers in your database?

Contact us by calling 888-410-3827 or emailing to be added to our list. As the website is built, we can add you to a searchable online database. CET has decades of experience supporting the establishment and growth of service providers that are doing the hands-on work of preventing, rescuing, and diverting wasted food. Please feel free to reach out to learn more about how we can support your goals and help your customers.

What expertise do you have?

CET has over 45 years of experience helping businesses and municipalities to reduce and properly manage waste. We have implemented business recycling programs across the Northeast, including the award-winning RecyclingWorks program in Massachusetts. CET looks forward to assisting your business in your waste reduction, recycling, and composting efforts.

Will it cost a lot of money to start a recycling or composting program?

Waste reduction activities may require a financial investment to implement, but these efforts can help organizations save money over time, improve employee job satisfaction, and respond to customer demands for sustainable practices. CET is a neutral party that can also help businesses comply with Connecticut waste laws.

Why is reducing waste in Connecticut important?

There are many benefits to reducing waste. By not producing waste in the first place, or by donating surplus food and other materials to give them a second life, businesses can realize cost savings. Additionally, Connecticut is facing a waste crisis as waste-to-energy facilities are shutting down, leaving fewer locations within the state to dispose of materials. Increasingly, there will be a focus on sending trash to out-of-state landfills, which will cost more money to handle. Reducing waste, reuse, and recycling can all support cost avoidance associated with these changes.

We’re not doing a very good job recycling, will you still help us?

Environmental Specialists are ready to meet your business wherever you are right now and help you take the first step in reducing your environmental impact. We strive to provide unbiased, actionable, and realistic recommendations to help your organization maintain compliance with existing disposal bans and achieve any additional waste diversion goals.

We’re already doing a great job recycling, why would we need help?

We can help take your organization to the next level and will recommend unique approaches to divert even more waste from disposal. If you’re not sure, consider joining our mailing list to learn about new resources, business success stories, and upcoming events.

We already received assistance, can you still help us?

We know that your business needs will evolve. We always try to provide as much assistance as possible during our first visit and will continue to support your organization afterward. If we cannot conduct an additional site visit, we are always happy to provide assistance over the phone and through email.

What materials can you help us recycle?

We pride ourselves in being an industry leader when it comes to preventing and diverting a wide range of materials from disposal. In addition to the more commonly recycled materials such as paper, cardboard, and containers, we have expertise in hard-to-recycle materials such as electronics, fluorescent light bulbs, pallets, and construction materials. We also specialize in all forms of food recovery, from reducing food waste and donating surplus food, to recycling food scraps through animal feed, composting, and anaerobic digestion.

Call our hotline 888-410-3827 or email to learn more.