CT Nip Bottle Recycling Program Pays Off

November 3, 2022


 
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Dear Neighbor,

I hope you've been enjoying the unusually warm temperatures lately. Leaf-peeping season in Connecticut is approaching its end, but in Fairfield County, those golden hues will be peaking until about November 14. If you're looking to explore the area and take in the reds, yellows, and oranges of autumn, you can find a fall foliage driving loop here. The map for Scenic Fairfield County will take you through Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford, and Woodbury. 

In this week's email, you will find information on:

  • Nickel-Per-Nip Bottle Program Pays Off
  • Additional Funding for Heating Assistance Program
  • Changes to 211 Crisis Housing Line
  • November is Native American Heritage Month
  • Free Dental Care from the CT Mission of Mercy
  • Fairfield Workshop on Access Dwelling Units
     
    Election Day is Tuesday!
    Election Day will be Tuesday, November 8! Do you know how and where you're voting? 

    If you are planning to vote by absentee ballot, don't forget to apply for it. You can visit the Secretary of the State's website to download the application. You can also go in person to the Town Clerk's Office in Town Hall to request a ballot. It only takes 5 minutes! We passed a law this session to make it easier to vote by absentee ballot. Voters will be eligible to cast an absentee ballot if:

    • They are unable to go to their polling place on Election Day because of absence from their town for a period of time on Election Day;
    • Because of a sickness; or
    • Because of a disability.

    You can learn more about this law here.

    If you're going to be voting at the polls in person on Tuesday, make sure you know where your polling place is. Click the image above for a map of polling places in our community. You can also look up your polling place online using the SOTS Voter Registration Lookup portal. 

    For more information about casting your ballot on Tuesday, please click here.
     
    Nickel-Per-Nip Bottle Program Pays Off
    In its first full year, Connecticut's "nickel-per-nip" program has generated over $4.2 million for municipalities throughout the state. The program, which places a 5-cent surcharge on every 50 mL container of alcohol, commonly called a "nip", was passed in 2021 as part of updates to our state's Bottle Bill. Each municipality receives 5 cents for every nip sold within its borders. Checks are sent to cities and towns every April and October. 

    For the period of April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, checks totaling $2.3 million were sent to Connecticut municipalities. Fairfield received $16,716.28 for this period. Year-to-date, Fairfield has received $32,205.18.

    The program was designed to help cities and towns provide for the collection and proper disposal of "nip" bottles to combat littering. According to a press release from Three Tiers for Connecticut, which advocated for the program, some towns have used the funds to support recycling centers and litter-reduction initiatives. You can read more about this here. For a town-by-town list of payments, please click here.
     
    Additional Funding for Heating Assistance Program
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $4.5 billion in assistance to help lower heating costs for families this winter. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) subsidizes home heating costs, covers unpaid utility bills, and assists families with making improvements to help decrease energy costs. This additional funding comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and emergency funding Congress approved in September. 

    The additional funding for this program will ensure more households across our state and country can stay warm this winter. This past year, the program has served over 5.3 million households during extreme weather in the winter and summer months. 

    If you need assistance heating your home this winter, click here to learn more about the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). 
     
    Changes to 211 Crisis Housing Line
    To respond to the growing demand for housing, the United Way of Connecticut/211 is making changes to its Housing Crisis Line to concentrate staff and the times most calls are received. As of now, the line will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To better focus efforts on helping people who have no shelter and those facing homelessness currently or in the next 14 days, callers who are seeking information on rental assistance, affordable housing options, Section 8 vouchers, or other renter or housing supports will be directed to recorded information and to the 211 website. All other 211 services will remain available 24/7. You can read more about this here.
     
    November is Native American Heritage Month
    "Long before European colonization and American rebellion created the state of Connecticut, diverse Indigenous communities called the land home. They worked its soil, traveled its reaches to trade, and established cultures rich in political, artistic, technological, spiritual, and environmental legacies that continue to evolve today. Despite war, enslavement, and prejudice, Native people have remained active agents in their own and state history." - CT Humanities

    This month, I'll be highlighting Native American heritage and notable figures in Connecticut history! 
     
    Free Dental Care from the CT Mission of Mercy
    The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach, in collaboration with UConn School of Dental Medicine, is presenting the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic (CTMOM) on November 12 and 13 in Farmington.

    CTMOM is a two-day clinic that provides FREE dental care to the underserved and uninsured, who would otherwise go without it.

    The clinic opens at 8 a.m. on November 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Services include cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays, oral health instructions, fillings, extractions, root canal treatments on front teeth, limited partial dentures for front teeth

    During the past 14 years, CTMOM has provided over 20,339 Connecticut citizens with more than $13,152,444 worth of free dental care.

    For additional information, please click here.
     
    Fairfield Workshop on Accessory Dwelling Units
    On Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, 320 Beach Rd, the Town of Fairfield Affordable Housing Committee and Fairfield Senior Advocates will hold a workshop on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The workshop is free and open to the public. Participants will learn more about ADUs and recent changes to the town's zoning regulations, which have made it easier to establish an ADU. Panelists will include Planning Director Jim Wendt and local architect Marc Andre, among others. Pre-registration is required. You can learn more about the event and register here.
     
    I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

    Sincerely,

    Jennifer Leeper
    State Representative
     

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