CT to close Torrington transfer station amid trash dispute

The facility has been the subject of a conflict between two waste haulers and allegations of favoritism at the state Capitol.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:20pm

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The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced it will cease operations at the Torrington transfer station, which serves around a dozen communities in the Northwest Hills, effective June 30. The decision comes after a year of state control over the facility and is based on the anticipated expiration of the agency's operating permit and the loss of state funding necessary to avoid an increase in tipping fees.

Why it matters

The closure disrupts plans by the regional council of governments to keep the transfer station operating under public ownership. It also opens up an opportunity for the jilted buyer of the transfer station, Enfield-based USA Waste & Recycling, to expand its operations in the region.

The details

The Torrington transfer station was previously owned and operated by the Materials Innovation Recycling Authority (MIRA), a quasi-public agency that managed trash disposal for a wide swath of Connecticut. After MIRA's central waste-to-energy facility in Hartford's South Meadows closed in 2022, MIRA began to wind down operations and sell off its remaining assets, including the Torrington transfer station. The board set up to oversee that process voted last year in favor of a plan to sell the Torrington facility to USA Waste & Recycling for $3.25 million, but a late amendment was slipped into the state's budget bill that blocked the sale by giving the transfer station's operating permit to a newly-created public entity, the Northwest Resource Recovery Authority (NRRA).

  • The Torrington transfer station has been under state control for the past year.
  • DAS announced the closure of the transfer station effective June 30, 2026.

The players

Michelle Gilman

Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS).

Robert Phillips

Executive of the Northwest Hills Council of Government.

Frank Antonacci

Chief operating officer of USA Waste & Recycling, the jilted buyer of the Torrington transfer station.

Leigh Appleby

Spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS).

Rista Malanca

Director of community and economic development for the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I think they're left scrambling at this point. I don't think anyone expected to receive this letter.”

— Robert Phillips, Executive of the Northwest Hills Council of Government

“We are able to provide a seamless transition to our other facility in Winsted, with or without this transfer station. With that being said, we stand by our original offer that we are willing and able to follow through with the purchase, of the Torrington transfer station, if that's something that's desirable to DAS.”

— Frank Antonacci, Chief operating officer of USA Waste & Recycling

“The concern is, once they have control of the facility, from then until whenever, they will have complete control over curbside pickup and disposal of trash.”

— Rista Malanca, Director of community and economic development for the Northwest Hills Council of Governments

What’s next

The Northwest Resource Recovery Authority (NRRA) does not have the funds or staff to purchase and operate the transfer station. Officials have reached out to local lawmakers about getting legislation passed this year that would transfer ownership of the facility to the NRRA, which would then negotiate with private haulers to manage the facility.

The takeaway

The closure of the Torrington transfer station highlights the ongoing challenges in managing waste disposal in Connecticut, with disputes between private waste haulers and allegations of political favoritism complicating efforts to maintain critical infrastructure. The situation raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the state's waste management system and the need for greater coordination and transparency among stakeholders.