About Us

Our Mission

When it comes to waste reduction, the Greenwich community leads in so many ways. In 2018, the Town of Greenwich became only the second municipality in the state to pass a bag ordinance, and our community was one of the first to establish a food scrap recycling program in southwestern Connecticut. Greenwich also diverts more tons of textiles from the waste stream than any Connecticut municipality.

Yet, Greenwich's trash tonnages continue to rise, while recycling rates drop. These trends are costly for public health, the environment and our wallets.

The mission of Waste Free Greenwich is to engage, educate and empower the Greenwich community to waste less, providing solutions at home, school and work through the 6Rs: refuse, reuse, reduce, repair, recycle and rot.

Waste Free Greenwich is breaking new ground with our innovative programs, educational initiatives and collaborative partnerships to address these challenges and inspire community action for a waste free future in Greenwich.

Our Story

Waste Free Greenwich was founded in 2019 when a group of residents resolved to start a food scrap recycling program in Greenwich. At first these volunteers formed a subcommittee of the Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board (GRAB), a town advisory board to the First Selectman, but soon reorganized as an independent environmental organization under Waste Free Greenwich.

After launching the municipal food scrap recycling program in June 2020, Waste Free Greenwich expanded our objectives to raise awareness about our unsustainable waste management system and to focus on solutions at home, school and work to wasted food, environmental injustice, plastic pollution and much more.

In 2023, Waste Free Greenwich became a 501(c)(3) to better serve the Greenwich community. As an independent nonprofit organization, Waset Free Greenwich does not receive funding from the Town of Greenwich. We rely on individual donations and grant funding to realize our mission to engage, educate and empower the Greenwich community to waste less.

Our Leadership

Myra Klockenbrink, Ali Ghiorse, Svetlana Wasserman, Julie DesChamps, Heather Ewing, Heidi Matonis and Sally Davies. Feb 18, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager

Board of Directors:

Julie DesChamps, Founder and Chair;

Mary Tobin, Vice Chair;

Jeff Robertson, Treasurer;

Hillary Harper, Secretary;

Sharon Psyhojos, Events Co-Chair;

Britta Calkosz, Events Co-Chair;

Heidi Matonis, Advocacy Chair

Team Waste Free Greenwich:

Our team of volunteers provides support for our events and programs and meets monthly to discuss current initiatives.

Get Involved

Connect

Stay informed and inspired by signing up for our weekly e-newsletter and following us on social media. Learn about our upcoming events, latest initiatives, tips for waste free living and more.

Volunteer

Join our growing team! Email info@wastefreegreenwich.org to explore current opportunities.

Advocate

Waste Free Greenwich advocates for local and state legislation and policies that support waste reduction, by providing testimony, writing letters to the editor and communicating with local leadership.

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