To the Editor:hrra.org.

As Ban Ki-moon, the former secretary general of the UN, said, "We are using resources as if we had two planets, not one. There can be no 'plan B' because there is no 'planet B.'"

It isn't often that we think about what happens to our garbage once it is picked up and taken away, but if we take a moment to reflect on it we realize that our production of waste is unsustainable at the current rate. The fact is that waste production is growing in this country and it is having an impact on public health and the environment. Landfills emit harmful gases and the toxic leakage from our festering waste can contaminate groundwater and soil in the surrounding area.

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has called for a 60 percent reduction in solid waste over the next eight years. This goal is unattainable without the participation of all households. Not meeting the goal would unnecessarily increase the cost of waste management in Connecticut. If we keep generating trash at the current rate of 3 to 5 pounds of garbage per person each day, the cost to our state would be an additional $2.5 million per year.

Besides recycling, composting is the easiest way to reduce our trash. It is estimated that 40 percent of the solid waste thrown out each year could be composted. Composting takes a little knowledge and attention and despite our best intentions, we sometimes just don't have the time and attention to spare.

We are very fortunate in Newtown to have a town composting facility where we can simply collect our organic waste in a bin and drop it off at the Newtown Transfer Station at Ethan Allen Road. It is even possible for participants to periodically receive free compost in return. Unfortunately many people in town are not aware of this valuable resource. Let's all take advantage of it. To get more information or sign up for the service, go to

Vanessa Villamil

11 Antler Pine Road, Sandy Hook         March 15, 2017