Dive Brief:
- The Northwest State Corrections Facility in Swanton, VT announced its compliance with the state’s solid waste and recycling laws.
- The Vermont legislature passed the Universal Recycling of Solid Waste Act in 2012. The law established a timeline for businesses and residents that includes sorting recyclables and diverting organics to composting facilities instead of landfills.
- With the prison reaching its waste diversion goal ahead of schedule, the state is working to replicate its success as it integrates the same sorting-system model into other corrections facilities.
Dive Insight:
The prison established a simple sorting system using containers. The food waste is collected by a local company, Green Mountain Compost, that sells mineral-rich compost to the community and businesses.
Other state institutions are experimenting with their own diversion techniques. In New Mexico, inmates are trained to re-purpose wooden pallets into toys, while another initiative that would use shredded towels and robes for stuffing in plush toys is under consideration. If the programs are a success, other prisons are likely to follow suit.