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From trash to treasure | FOX61 Student News

The towns of Madison and Guilford are striving towards converting food waste into energy.

MADISON, Conn. — Story by 

Deacon Wilkins

Juliette Brenza

Bryce Malary

Daniel Hand High School

Someone else's trash… is another person's treasure. 

The towns of Madison and Guilford are striving towards converting food waste into energy. 

The Co-collection Pilot Program is a free trial for all participants to see how food waste management would work in the future.

“The state is facing a solid waste crisis, we’re generating more trash than we can really deal with,” says Jonathan Walter, Civil Engineer for the Town of Madison. “As a town community and state community, we should all be trying to do our part.” 

The towns are distributing a one-year supply of special color-coded bags to up to 700 households in both Guilford and Madison. At the end of each week, participants will tie up the bags and place them outside to be collected. 

Once the bags are picked up, they are on the road to the Quantum Biopower Facility in Southington. 

“It's going to be saving on landfill space and it is a savior for the environment,” says Todd Berube, the Facility Process Manager for Quantum Biopower. “We separate the garbage from the liquid, the liquid goes through a multiple of tanks, and at that point it decomposes. It creates a methane gas, which we use to turn our generator. Currently, we're powering approximately 750 homes.” 

With the increased necessity for green energy in Connecticut, many residents have signed up in hopes of a greener future. 

“As the climate changes, each household can make a difference by taking a small step like this.” says David Wilkins, a participant of the trial from Madison. 

This program is not permanent yet, however, with the necessary support, residents can make a difference in our community.

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