Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice

Encouraging Bridgeport to Recycle

Like many cities, Bridgeport's recycling rate lags that of its suburban neighbors. The fact has meant recyclables Bridgeport residents throw away are burned in the local trash incinerator, a big problem since this causes air pollution and a host of related problems, including increase in respiratory illness.

Since 2009, CCEJ has addressed the problem through the Bridgeport Recycling Speakers Bureau. Our Speakers Bureau of trained community volunteers educated Bridgeport residents to recycle and properly dispose of hazardous waste. Our project reached over 640 Bridgeport residents in its first year through presentations at community meetings, parent group meetings, and churches; a public library, a neighborhood group, and a health fair.

CCEJ moreover spoke with the city about problems residents have with recycling. Many had said it was confusing when to recycle because the city picked up recyclables only every other week. Many also wished for larger blue bins to collect recyclables.  Partly as a result of our discussion, the city has adopted goals for the advent of single stream recycling citywide and re-evaluation of city recycling routes. Single stream pilots have started in the city's East Side and East End.

The biggest change we have seen regarding Bridgeport recycling however was in the amount of recyclables collected. In the year 2008-9, recycling tonnage comprised 11.9% of Bridgeport’s waste stream, according to data from the City of Bridgeport. During the year of our project, 2009-10, that figure is estimated to have increased to 15.2%. The figure for 2009-10 represents an increase of more than 25% over the 2008-9 rate and 50% over our goal.