Vermont Recycling & Composting Initiative

Vermont Recycling & Composting Initiative We work with residents, businesses, institutions, and municipalities to reduce waste and to keep recyclables and food scraps out of the trash.

Do you have a question about composting, recycling, or reducing waste in Vermont? Want to know more about Vermont's waste reduction goals and how it's shaping the future of Vermont? Maybe you have an idea for how to increase composting or recycling participation in your community. Share your questions and ideas here! We welcome dialogue among Vermonters about how to prevent waste, and manage it wi

sely for our health and landscape. Vermont's Recycling & Composting Initiative is hosted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), part of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. All posted content must comply with DEC’s policy for posting and will be removed if it does not meet the requirements below. The Department reserves the right to remove any post that does not comply with this policy. In addition, the Department also reserves the right to ban individuals who violate any of the guidelines listed below or Facebook’s terms of service. (Read the whole Community Policy in our notes section).

06/22/2026

Did you know the average American family wastes about $1,500 a year on food they don’t eat? With the prices of food and fuel nowadays, I don't think anyone wants to spend money on food they simply forget to eat...

But somehow, we all do it! Just the other day, I had an overripe avocado that I forgot to eat with my tacos earlier in the week. None of us are perfect, so we can all try to do better!

Simple ways to waste less (and save more):

1️⃣Shop your pantry first: Check your fridge, freezer, and cabinets before you plan meals.
2️⃣Write a shopping list: Stick to what you need to avoid impulse buys and duplicates.
3️⃣Love your leftovers: Store them clearly, label dates, and plan a “leftovers night” each week.

💲Small habits add up. What’s your best tip for reducing food waste at home?

06/19/2026

Why live with a pesky paint can collection when you can follow these three simple rules from PaintCare:

1. Buy only what you need. 💲
2. Use up what you have. 👍🏽
3. Recycle the rest! ♻

When you are ready to recycle your paint, there are participating PaintCare collection sites conveniently located all across Vermont. Find your nearest by visiting www.paintcare.org/states/vermont/

Have you ever wondered why transfer stations are often called "the dump?"Until about 60 years ago, each town used to hav...
06/18/2026

Have you ever wondered why transfer stations are often called "the dump?"

Until about 60 years ago, each town used to have their own "dump" where folks literally tossed all of their trash in a single place. Periodically, these dump piles were burned.

It wasn't until 1968 when a new law required the use of "sanitary landfills" or incinerators.

It wasn't until 1987 until all new landfills were required to be lined and collect leachate (water that through the landfill).

Vermont's last unlined landfill closed in 2019.

Today, some transfer stations are located on top of the old town dump sites, but now waste is held there temporarily and then moved to a recycling or disposal facility.

Waste management is still challenging, but we have come a long way!

Schools are getting out for summer break across Vermont! This week's tiny tip is a reminder that spiral notebooks, with ...
06/17/2026

Schools are getting out for summer break across Vermont!

This week's tiny tip is a reminder that spiral notebooks, with a little bit of effort, can easily be recycled. Simply remove any plastic covers or metal spiral binders, and toss the paper loose in the recycling bin. Paper should not be tossed in the trash in Vermont, and all recycling programs across the state accept loose paper.

The best way to keep pesky plastic PLU stickers out of your food scraps is to take them all off when you unpack your gro...
06/16/2026

The best way to keep pesky plastic PLU stickers out of your food scraps is to take them all off when you unpack your groceries.

This is a great job for kids!

Soon, you may be seeing a new REUSE symbol on your packaging and products. 🧐This symbol is now being used in the US and ...
06/15/2026

Soon, you may be seeing a new REUSE symbol on your packaging and products. 🧐

This symbol is now being used in the US and worldwide to identify reusable packaging and reuse systems. This new symbol designed by PR3: The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse marks a major milestone in the transition towards a more circular economy.

The symbol is now being introduced on a diverse range of reusables including cups, foodware and to-go containers, wine and beverage bottles, cleaning and homecare product containers.

Unlike recyclability claims, use of the symbol is tied to specific criteria within the PR3 Marking & Labeling Standard. The symbol may only be used on packaging and infrastructure operating within systems that include collection, transport, sorting, washing and reuse processes.

To learn more, read the full press release here: https://www.pr3standards.org/reuse-symbol-press-release

Earlier this week, Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District held the grand opening of their Eco Depot.This collec...
06/11/2026

Earlier this week, Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District held the grand opening of their Eco Depot.

This collection facility is open by appointment to residents and businesses within the CVSWMD region.

They accept special recycling like:
Batteries (general purpose are free)
Bulbs (some are free)
Small and large appliances
Electric Devices (some are free)
Fire Extinguishers
​Mercury-Containing Devices
Propane Tanks
Smoke Detectors
Clothing (free)
Paint (free)
Scrap metal (free)
Film plastic
Paper to shred​

Any Vermonter can bring Household hazardous waste (any household product labeled "caution," "toxic," "danger," "hazard," "warning," "poisonous," "reactive," "corrosive," or "flammable.") for either an "in-district" or "out-of-district" fee.

Learn more about the Eco Depot or make an appointment: https://www.cvswmd.org/eco-depot.html

Learn more about Household Hazardous Waste: https://dec.vermont.gov/waste-management/solid/materials-mgmt/household-hazardous-waste

Next year at the new Burlington High School campus, when students go to throw away their waste at lunch, the Green Up Cl...
06/10/2026

Next year at the new Burlington High School campus, when students go to throw away their waste at lunch, the Green Up Club will be at the trash cans waiting to help fellow students sort their trash. 🗑

Students are beginning to become familiar with this already. This year, “bin monitors” in their bright green shirts, standing by the trash, gently remind students where their waste should go. So far, the results are promising. On a day they had student monitors on the trash cans, the amount of food waste that went into the compost increased by 200%. ♻

Kyle Buck '26 is one of these bin monitors. “We actually don’t have to do much standing by the bins,” Buck said. “I think people just kind of act accordingly, based on someone who’s somewhat official being there watching.” Buck is a co-founder of the Green up Club, a student-led group working to reduce food waste and improve composting habits at BHS.

The teacher sponsor for the club, Andrew Grant, was awarded a grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation for BHS to participate in DEC's School Compost and Recycling Action Planning Institute (SCRAPI) . Working with the DEC and the Chittenden Solid Waste District, Grant and the Green Up Club completed three waste audits this past academic year to learn about what students throw away and how they can help. 🧐

The timing of the project is intentional. With BHS moving into a new building next year, the Club sees an opportunity to reset habits.

This content and pictures are shared from an article of the BHS Register. Read the full article at www.https://bhsregister.com/12222/news/green-up/

Image Description: Kyle Buck, BHS student, monitors waste station at lunch with other members of the Green Up Club. Students conducted a waste audit to learn more about the schools waste habits.

06/08/2026

In Vermont, we sure do love composting our food scraps! Whether it be in your backyard in a compost pile or you take your food scraps down to your local transfer station, you are helping Vermont be one of the nation's leaders in keeping food scraps out of the trash!

Address

Waste Management & Prevention Division1 National Life Drive, Davis 1
Montpelier, VT
05620

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(802) 828-1138

Website

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