Dominique Johnson

The City of Norwalk will hold a mattress and box spring recycling collection on Saturday, September 27 from 9:00-12:00 PM at 15 South Smith Street in Norwalk. This free collection program recycles mattresses and box springs through the City’s partnership with the Mattress Recycling Council’s Connecticut Bye Bye Mattress Program.

This program is only open to Norwalk residents. All mattresses and box springs must be dry and intact.

Unacceptable items include:

• Severely damaged, twisted, wet, frozen, or soiled mattresses.
• Mattresses infested with bed bugs or other living organisms.
• Sleeping bags, pillows, cushions, loose bedding, mattress pads or toppers, etc.
• Car beds.
• Juvenile products, i.e., carriage, basket, stroller, crib bumper, etc.
• Water beds.
• Camping or air mattresses.
• Fold-out sofa beds.
• Futons for furniture.

For additional information about the program, click here.  

For questions, contact the Customer Service Center at CustomerService@norwalkct.gov or (203) 854-3200. 

Norwalk's next bottle return pop-up recycling event will be held on Monday, August 18.

The program, in partnership with EyeRecycle, allows residents to recycle their collected cans and bottles and receive cash. This is a free service with no fees and users instantly receive payment after recycling.

The event will take place at the parking lot across from the Norwalk Boat Ramp at Veteran’s Memorial Park, at 42 Seaview Avenue, from 4:00-6:00PM.

Here is how it works: 

•  Each redeemable bottle or can is worth 10 cents
• Plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans will be accepted
• There is no limit on the number of containers brought in
• Please pack glass bottles in a box when possible.

To learn more about the City’s recycling programs, visit: https://ow.ly/5skJ50VRVB1

The start of the school year is fast approaching. The first day of school for Norwalk Public School students is Monday, August 25, and the first day for Westport students is Wednesday, August 27. 

As you make plans for back to school shopping , I'd encourage you to take advantage of Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week, which begins on Sunday, August 17, and runs through Saturday, August 23. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the kids back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.
Highlights of Sales Tax-Free Week

• Sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $100 per item are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax.
• Sales Tax-Free Week applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.
• This special exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers.

Click here for a list of exempt and taxable items during Connecticut's Sales Tax-Free Week.

Shop smart – and locally whenever possible to support small businesses – to save during Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week!

Are you considering purchasing an electric vehicle? Are you interested in installing solar panels or a heat pump for your home?

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents that there are tens of thousands of dollars in federal and state incentives available to help you save on the purchase cost of these items.

Under the Federal budget reconciliation bill, tax credits for electric vehicles, residential solar, and home energy efficiency will expire in September and December of this year, so it’s important to act now to see what you might be eligible for. Some of the tax credits can be combined with state incentives, offering consumers even bigger savings. 

Click here to learn more.

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is urging state residents to sign up for the CT Alert emergency notification system as extreme weather incidents continue to increase.

According to DESPP, more than 5,000 residents signed up for CT Alert just over the last month — more than during any one of the last three years bringing the total to nearly 226,000 people who have signed up for the emergency notifications.
DESPP offered a number of tips on how to prepare for potential severe weather:

• Download the CTPrepares app for your mobile phone so you know how to prepare for any emergency.
• Create an emergency kit to keep in your home so you are ready for any emergency.
• Put together a “go bag” with copies of important documents, prescriptions, battery-operated radio, and other items such as a cell phone charger.
• Make sure you have an evacuation plan, particularly if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone.

Signing up for CT alert system can be done online or by texting CTALERT to 888-777.

Increasing ADA Accessibility in Westport

The Town of Westport is working to improve accessibility in public spaces and would like input from the community.  

In 2024, the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) retained the W-T Group (WTG) Accessibility Practice to develop ADA-compliant transition plans for parks and public facilities throughout its communities. These plans identify existing access barriers and outline phased improvements over time.

The Town will host two in-person community engagement sessions at the Center for Senior Activities  to gather feedback and share updates:

• Wednesday, August 20 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 21 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Each session will be led by John McGovern, head of WTG’s Accessibility Practice, who will:

• Review key ADA requirements for Town facilities and parks
• Highlight findings from WTG’s recent site assessments
• Emphasize the value of public feedback in shaping retrofit priorities
• Invite attendees to share their access needs and suggestions
• Outline next steps for the Town’s ADA Transition Plan

Click here to register. 

If you are unable to attend in person, you can still help by completing an anonymous survey. Click here to take the survey. 

The City of Norwalk will hold a FREE Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection event on Saturday, August 23 from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. This event will be held at Ponus Ridge Middle School.

Hazardous materials such as oil, lighter fluid, poisons, insecticides, pesticides, fluorescent lightbulbs will be accepted. 

Here is how you can safely transport your hazardous materials:

• Leave materials in original labeled containers. Tighten caps & lids.
• Pack containers in sturdy upright boxes and pad with newspapers.
• Sort & pack separately: paint, pesticides, household cleaners, etc.
• Pack your car and drive directly to the HHW event.
• Please do NOT mix chemicals!
• Please have your driver’s license, vehicle registration or Norwalk Disposal Pass available.
• Residents ONLY = NO Commercial or Business loads accepted.
• Latex Paint is NOT Hazardous Waste but will be collected on HHW Day. Residents can dry

Latex Paint completely and dispose as regular trash, once completely dry and solid!

If you plan to attend, please have your driver’s license, vehicle registration or Norwalk Disposal Pass available and remember to leave all hazardous waste in its original packaging. It is also recommended that you pack your waste containers securely in a box so they can be transported without spilling and removed from your vehicle efficiently.

To view acceptable and unacceptable waste for the 2025 Household Hazardous Waste Collection, please click here. 

For any questions regarding the HHW collection, please contact the Customer Service Center at CustomerService@norwalkct.gov or (203) 854-3200.

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, established by the Connecticut General Assembly and administered by the CT State Department of Education (CSDE), is now open and accepting applications!

This scholarship supports students who:

• Graduated from a public high school in an Alliance District
• Are enrolled—or will soon enroll—in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
• Are in good academic standing
• Meet any additional CSDE eligibility requirements

 Up to $10,000 per year is available for eligible students, including:

•  High school seniors planning to begin a teacher prep program this fall
• Undergraduate or graduate students already enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners!

Apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator. To learn more, click HERE.