Stratford, CT Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Stratford Code § 165-1 puts the obligation on the owner or occupant of each residence, residential unit, place of business, industry or institution, who must provide for the separation, collection and processing of recyclable solid waste under regulations first adopted by the Stratford Recycling Committee and amended by the Director of Public Works or his designee. Section 165-6 establishes the program itself: mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials from municipal solid waste, with collection of segregated recyclables at the Town's curbside and/or other specified locations, made periodically under the Director's supervision.

Section 165-8 defines recyclable materials as discarded materials the state mandates to be recycled, plus other items the Director deems recyclable. The definition of recycling activity in § 165-2 names newspapers, plastics, glass, aluminum and tin. The Town Council abolished the Recycling Committee in § 165-3 and handed rulemaking to the Director, but under § 165-4(B) no regulation takes effect until the Town Council holds a public hearing and approves it, and the Director must provide the Commissioner a copy of the notice at least 35 days before the hearing.

Section 165-7 directs the Director to coordinate the program with private trash haulers and recycling centers and to provide recycling education for residents and school children. Under § 165-13, each owner of nonresidential property must, at the owner's expense, collect and have recycled all recyclable solid waste the property generates, and the Director can require recycling plans and periodic reports on the amount and nature of items recycled. Section 165-14 requires haulers to register in the Town and mark the door of each hauling vehicle with the business name and address. Section 165-11 conditions the licensing of public events on the separation of recyclables.