Several students from West Hartford’s Hall High School are asking residents to complete a survey regarding food waste, and additional food waste bins have been installed.

By Ronni Newton

Three environmentally-minded students from Hall High School are working with the West Hartford Department of Public Works and have designed a short survey in order to better understand how residents currently think about food waste.

The three Hall students – Ojas Upadhye, Antony Gao, and Ashank Dahal have spent several months “learning about food waste, local sustainability efforts, and how neighbors across West Hartford think about diverting food scraps. Their enthusiasm for understanding – and improving – our community’s environmental habits is truly inspiring,” town officials said in the announcement of the survey launch.

According to Public Works, more than 93 tons of food scraps have been diverted from the waste stream by residents who utilize the existing food scrap collection bins. Officials said more than 1,640 residents have downloaded the MetroKey app to drop off their scraps at one of the bins that have been placed around town. Three new bins have been added, bringing the total number of locations in town to 11.

The new food scrap drop-off bins are located at:

• Wolcott Park at the Chatfield Drive entrance
• Beachland Park
• Sterling Field

The survey addresses awareness of the current food scrap collection program and residents’ current habits and barriers to participation in the existing program. Questions also address options that might encourage greater participation. They are looking for insights into the challenges people face in diverting their food waste, and how the program might be made easier and even more accessible.

The survey takes just minutes to complete, and can be accessed by clicking here. The survey will remain open through Sept. 30, 2026.

Town officials express their thanks for the communities participation, for empowering the students “to develop thoughtful, community-centered recommendations,” and “for contributing to a greener, more sustainable West Hartford.”

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