The 2026 Amended SWIP has been officially adopted.
On May 4, 2026, the Solid Waste Alliance Communities (SWAC) officially voted to adopt the amended Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP). This update formally includes Castleton and Hubbardton as member towns, bringing our Alliance to 12 communities working together on sustainable materials management.
What is the SWIP?
The SWIP is a five-year planning document (2025–2030) that outlines how our region meets Vermont’s solid waste requirements under the Agency of Natural Resources’ Materials Management Plan and Act 148, the state’s universal recycling law.
The plan describes how each waste stream is managed and presents strategies for increasing diversion, reducing waste, and improving public outreach and education. Specifically, the plan includes:
Education & Outreach: How we inform residents about reducing and diverting recyclables, food scraps, yard trimmings, clean wood, hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction debris.
Schools & Businesses: How we work with local institutions to improve waste diversion, including food waste programs.
Public Spaces: Management of public events and spaces to reduce waste.
Material Handling: Current procedures for recyclables, organics, hazardous waste, textiles, and biosolids.
Pricing & Facilities: Implementation of variable rate pricing for residential trash, procedures for siting solid waste facilities, and a list of facilities and haulers operating within SWAC towns.
Our Overall Goals:
Prevent unnecessary waste generation.
Promote sustainable materials management and prioritize highest and best uses.
Reduce reliance on landfills and incineration.
Conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts.
Review the Plan and Announcements
You can review the full, officially adopted document and related announcements below:
View the Amended 2026 SWIP (Adopted May 5, 2026)
Member Towns:
Benson, Castleton, Chittenden, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Tinmouth, and West Haven.
Questions? Please contact the SWAC Administrator at solidwastealliancecommunities@gmail.com.