Ad Hoc Sustainability and Resilience Committee 08-12-2026

The City of Norwalk Connecticut's Ad Hoc Sustainability and Resilience Committee met on August 12, 2026, to discuss updates on the sustainability and resiliency roadmap and to deliberate on a potential "skip the stuff" initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics such as utensils, napkins, straws, condiment packets, and stirrers. The committee reviewed the progress of the roadmap, which is in the staff review phase with plans for community engagement and a final presentation to the council in December 2026. Regarding the "skip the stuff" initiative, the committee considered options including a voluntary pilot program with public education and partnerships with local restaurants, rather than immediately pursuing an ordinance due to enforcement challenges. They discussed examples from other municipalities like Westport and Greenwich, and noted that a similar state-level proposal was tabled. The committee also explored enforcement mechanisms such as integration with the health department and the use of reporting apps. No specific contract awards, RFPs, or budget allocations were mentioned during the meeting.