Liz Hughes has been hired for the part-time position.

By Ted Newton

Upon the retirement of long-time recycling coordinator Katherine Bruns in June, the town determined the position should be expanded to address all aspects of environmental sustainability. As West Hartford’s new environmental sustainability coordinator, Liz Hughes hopes to be a resource for residents and town staff on sustainability related issues and opportunities.

In her first few weeks of the job, Hughes is in the “reconnaissance phrase” now, working with Director of Public Works John Phillips and his team to evaluate what possibilities exist beyond the town’s current recycling and waste management practices to help the community’s environmental health.

“Part of my responsibilities is to support the Public Works team so they have a better understanding of environmental impacts of their work, and to identify any training opportunities that may help,” said Hughes, mentioning that the town’s use of pesticides may be an area to consider.

She also sees her role as helping residents become engaged in moving beyond the status quo when it comes to sustainability efforts. “Meeting members of the community, getting people more involved and connected to spread the word about our environment – that’s what I want to do,” said Hughes, noting that her background in volunteer administration should help with that.

Hughes has always been interested in sustainability, especially human impacts on our environment and how they will affect our children in the future and their children. She feels it is important – and effective – to help the youngest community members to become “planet-eers” and advocate for the environment.

One way to do that is to build on Bruns’ recycling advocacy for recycling and food scraps diversion over the past couple of years. She noted that most of the town’s elementary schools have successful food scraps composting in place. In the middle schools, however, these practices haven’t been as established. Hughes hopes to replicate what the elementary schools have been doing. “Kids come into their new (middle) school with the attitude that they should be recycling food scraps and not put them in the trash. That shouldn’t be lost just because they are moving to a new building.”

Asked what the town is doing well when it comes to sustainability, she pointed to the existence of the Sustainable West Hartford Commission, which promotes a more sustainable community to residents and town government. Not every town has one, she said. And not every town has the environmental sustainability role she now occupies.

“I’m available – come to talk to me!” Hughes said. “It can be hard to even know where to start the conversation about sustainability. I might not know the answer, but I will find out or hopefully point you in the right direction.”

Hughes can be reached at [email protected].

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