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The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main, where patrons were invited to sign a pledge to use their reusable cups at retailers to cut down on waste, and possibly influence others to do the same. Recycling Coordinator Kim O’Rourke, right, and assistant Kate Gendrich, left, show off this month’s raffle prize from Reboot Eco.

The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main. This display demonstrates recyclable and nonrecyclable items that end up in the trash stream.

The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main.

The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main. Shown is this month’s raffle prize from Reboot Eco in Middletown.

The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main, where patrons were invited to sign a pledge to use their reusable cups at retailers to cut down on waste.

The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program Thursday at Perk on Main. This display demonstrates recyclable and nonrecyclable items that end up in the trash stream.

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Recycling Department launched its “Refill, Not Landfill Coffee Cup Passport” program last week at Perk on Main, where patrons were invited to sign a pledge to use reusable cups at retailers to reduce waste, and possibly influence others to do the same.

The display set up near the entrance of the coffee shop indicates which items can be recycled, such as cardboard fast food drink holders, and those that can’t, including plastic straws and cup toppers.

It also includes an explanation about why the trash crisis is occurring, and what people can do to ameliorate more waste.

The initiative encourages coffee drinkers to bring reusable cups for their beverages to reduce waste, combat climate change and save money. A simple way to help combat this is by reducing the number of single-use items, such as cups, bags, utensils and takeout containers, Middletown Recycling Coordinator Kim O’Rourke said.

A lot of people have gotten out of the habit of using reusable cups due to the pandemic, and fears of contamination, the recycling coordinator said.

“This brings back that idea,” she said.

Each Connecticut resident generates about 4½ pounds of solid waste per day, according to the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority. A family of four produces nearly 3 tons of trash annually (5,480 pounds).

State and local officials are struggling to manage solid waste generated by residents and businesses, O’Rourke explained. With the closure of the MIRA waste-to-energy facility last week, more waste is being delivered out of state, ultimately increasing trash removal costs, she said.

The passport program, which will partially address the problem, was made possible by a $1,500 grant from the Rockfall Foundation.

“This raises awareness of what we should be doing to reduce our waste. We thought this was a perfect fit for what we fund,” explained Rockfall Foundation Executive Director Tony Marino, who encourages entities to apply during the next grant cycle.

When participants bring a reusable cup to participating shops, they will receive a stamp on their passport. Once five stamps are collected, people are entered into a free raffle for items from local businesses. Drawings will be conducted monthly through the end of November.

O’Rourke feels strongly that both corporations and government need to make changes in order to create a system that makes it easier for consumers to recycle product packaging.

“You start from the whole ecology of things,” said associate director Pete Weiss, who also believes legislation is the key to leading change. “Look what happened with plastic bags. You don’t see them blowing in the wind anymore, and they used to be everywhere,” Weiss added.

The Break Free From Plastic Act is still making its way through Congress.

Local action is also underway. In March, the Middletown Common Council passed a resolution in support of the legislation.

The city handles its own waste, so the situation won’t directly affect the city, “but we also want to be part of the solution,” Mayor Ben Florsheim has said.

O’Rourke hopes the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which wasn’t considered during this past legislative session, is taken up again.

“We would shift the responsibility of recycling and paying for packaging of these products, like polystyrene that can’t get recycled, to the producers,” she said.

“They would be required programs to manage this waste sustainably,” she said. “Sometimes the consumer can’t do anything. It really lies with the government to take some action and corporations to be responsible.”

Some people are influenced by discounts they can get from certain retailers, such as Perkatory, for bringing their own cup, O’Rourke said. “Maybe more shops will do that in the future, which will encourage another level of folks to do it,” she said.

The younger generation is more in tune with such environmental issues, O’Rourke has observed. “They seem to be more into it. They learn more about it in school — it’s their future.”

“For a lot of time, I’ve felt that the climate crisis is something too big for me, as one person, to handle,” Recycling Assistant Kate Gendrich said. That has changed, however, since she’s been working with O’Rourke, who has a number of programs already in place.

The recycling coordinator gave her reusable wheat-straw utensils and a canteen mug, which has encouraged Gendrich to make small efforts in her own life.

“Having the ability to make dedicated change, really shows me that it is worth it to keep trying,” added Gendrich, who says her work has become fulfilling.

More than 140 billion cups of coffee are consumed yearly in America, and North Carolina State University reported in 2020 that Americans used 136 million paper cups daily, according to O’Rourke.

“Everyone has got to do it, so if they say, ‘what’s the difference,’ and I say ‘what’s the difference,’ then we’re not making any difference,” Gendrich explained. “If I don’t contribute (and set an example,” she added, what’s the point?”

“We’re starting to elevate the conversation,” O’Rourke added. “The goal is to make it the norm.”

Passports can be dropped off at Perk on Main, 386 Main St.; Story & Soil, 413 Main St.; Perkatory, 725 Main St.; Essex Coffee & Tea, 51 Main St.; the Public Works office, 245 Dekoven Drive at City Hall; and Reboot Eco, 131 River Road.

O’Rourke will attend the first Friday of the month Middletown Arts Fest Aug. 5, then Story & Soil in September.

Cassandra Day is an award-winning multimedia journalist and resident of the North End of Middletown who has been reporting nearly every facet of the city for over two decades.