For many years, the centerpiece of MIRA’s Connecticut Solid Waste System “CSWS” has been the Resource Recovery Facility located in Hartford.  However, due to its age, serviceability and reliability, the facility was closed in July 2022 following unsuccessful efforts to redevelop it as mandated by Public Act 14-94.  Since that time MIRA has continued to receive municipal solid waste “MSW”, single or dual stream recycling at its Essex Transfer Station and Torrington Transfer Station.  These two transfer stations are the remaining operating facilities comprising the CSWS which are governed by the MIRA Dissolution Authority effective July 1, 2023.

Essex Transfer Station

MSW received at the leased Essex Transfer Station is consolidated onto transfer trailers and delivered to the privately operated Resource Recovery Facility located in Preston CT. where it is combusted for energy recovery purposes.  Recycling is consolidated onto transfer trailers and delivered to a privately operated processing facility in Berlin where it is sorted, baled and sold to market for incorporation into new consumer products.

Municipalities delivering to the Essex Transfer Station pursuant to Municipal Service Agreements with the Authority include:

Deep River                            Essex

Old Saybrook                        Chester

Clinton                                  Durham

Middlefield                            Haddam

Killingworth                           Lyme

Westbrook

 

Torrington Transfer Station

MSW received at the Torrington Transfer Station is consolidated onto transfer trailers and delivered to the privately operated Keystone sanitary landfill in Pennsylvania.  Recycling is consolidated onto transfer trailers and delivered to a privately operated processing facility in Berlin where it is sorted, baled and sold to market for incorporation into new consumer products.

Municipalities delivering to the Torrington Transfer Station pursuant to Municipal Service Agreements with the Authority include:

Canaan                                 Colebrook

Cornwall                                Goshen

Middlebury                            North Canaan

Norfolk                                  Barkhamsted

Winsted                                New Hartford

Salisbury                              Sharon

 

The MIRA Dissolution Authority will continue to operate the Essex and Torrington Transfer Stations until acceptable alternatives to its operation become available.  The Authority anticipates transferring control of these facilities, as well as the associated operating and service agreements, to regional waste authorities or municipal governments as efficiently and expeditiously as possible.

 

Standby Facilities

MIRA transfer stations in Watertown and Ellington, and its recycling facility in Hartford, remain permitted and functional in the event they are needed in response to service disruptions at other Connecticut waste management facilities.

These Standby Facilities are also considered surplus to the Authority’s needs and are subject to marketing and sale.