Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why recycle?

Recycling does take a little bit of effort but in return...

• Recycling conserves our valuable natural resources.
• Recycling saves energy.
• Recycling saves clean air and clean water.
• Recycling saves landfill space.
  
  

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. Making recycled paper instead of new paper uses 64 percent less energy and uses 58 percent less water. One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year. More than 1/3 of all fiber used to make paper comes from recycled paper. Only 1 percent of the world's water supply is usable; 97 percent is in the ocean and 2 percent is frozen. It takes a 15-year-old tree to produce 700 grocery bags.

2. Where can I get a new blue Recycling bin?

Blue recycling bins can be purchased for $6 each at the Public Works Department located in the Town Hall Annex building.

3. Who can use the Wilton Transfer Station?

All commercial haulers that collect, transport and dispose of refuse and recyclables from Wilton homes must be licensed by the Town. In addition to the Licensed Wilton haulers that pick up from your homes, the residents of Wilton have free access to the Town’s Transfer Station.

4. What are Wilton Residents required to recycle?

Wilton residents should recycle the following items:

• Newspaper (including inserts) tied with twine or in a brown paper bag
• Commingled Items (Lids/tops must be removed):
• Rinsed GLASS food and beverage containers
• Rinsed METAL food and beverage containers (including clean metal pie plates)
• Rinsed PLASTIC containers (#1 - #7)
• Empty Aerosol cans

5. Should I take the tops off my plastic and glass containers?

Yes, all lids and tops should be removed from your plastic and glass containers and disposed of in your household garbage.

7. What do I do with my Latex paint cans?

The Town no longer accepts latex (water-based) paint at its Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. If you have empty paint cans or with very little dried paint residue please place in the scrap metal container at the Transfer Station. If there is “wet” paint in the cans, please place kitty litter or mulch in the can to speed up the drying process. When dried out, empty dried contents in your garbage and place the paint can in scrap metal container. There is no charge to dispose of in the scrap metal container but please note that if dried contents are not emptied from paint cans, you will need to dispose of as bulky waste and tickets will be required.

8. How can I learn more about the Transfer Station?

Additional information concerning the Transfer Station is available on the Town’s website (www.wiltonct.org) under the Department of Public Works or by contacting DPW at 203/563-0152.

9. What becomes of our recyclables?

The materials you place in your recycling bin each week do come back to us as new products. Aluminum cans are processed into new cans. Glass containers are turned into new glass bottles. But there are other products made from recycled materials that bear little or no resemblance to their original components. You probably wouldn’t blow your nose on a sheet of copier paper, but the fluffy tissues you use when you have a cold may well have been made from recycled office paper. Recycled paper products reduce the need to cut down trees for processing into pulp. Plastic containers are turned into a wide variety of products – carpeting, fleece and building materials used in place of pressure-treated lumber. New plastic is made from petroleum, so using recycled plastic products reduces our dependency on imported oil. When you shop, make sure you look for the “recycled” symbol on items you buy. Buying recycled products saves precious natural resources – buying recycled products is good for the environment.

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