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12 Most, Least Green Towns in Connecticut

Counting down Connecticut towns with the largest and smallest environmental footprints.

Connecticut is an environmentally minded state (example: it’s easier to find a “town recycling center” than a “town dump”) but which town deserves the honor of greenest?

To find out, we ranked each town based on population density, the total amount of trash generated per person, the percent of garbage being recycled, and residential, municipal and commercial energy efficiency — awarding points in each of six categories.

The slideshow above counts down the Top 12 greenest towns in the state (with seven claiming the sixth slot with 18 total points and two-way ties for third and first) and the list below shows the bottom dozen.

Find an interactive map with the breakdown for all 169 towns, as well as a full explanation of the methodology here.

Least Green Connecticut Towns

Plainville
10 Green Points – 158th
People per Sq Mile: 1,823.85 – 3 points
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,522.25 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: 11.4 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 9.7 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 10.99 percent – 2 points

Stamford
10 Green Points – 158th
People per Sq Mile: 2,401.32 – 2 points
Tree City: Yes – 1 point
Trash per Person: 1,901.99 – 1 point
Percent Recycled: 27.6 percent – 3 points
Residential Energy Programs: 5.96 percent – 1 point
Municipal & Business Programs: 7.26 percent – 2 points

Bridgeport
9 Green Points – 160th
People per Sq Mile: 7,547.68 – 0 points
Tree City: Yes – 1 point
Trash per Person: 1,346.26 – 3 points
Percent Recycled: Not Reported – 0 points
Residential Energy Programs: 16.69 percent – 3 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 7.21 percent – 2 points

Hartford
9 Green Points – 160th
People per Sq Mile: 7,219.25 – 0 points
Tree City: Yes – 1 point
Trash per Person: 1,556.36 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: 12.5 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 14.81 percent – 3 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 9.45 percent – 2 points

New London
9 Green Points – 160th
People per Sq Mile: 3,370.68 – 1 point
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,541.88 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: 18.1 percent – 2 points
Residential Energy Programs: 15.59 percent – 3 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 6.86 percent – 1 point

Norwalk
9 Green Points – 160th
People per Sq Mile: 2,401.93 – 2 points
Tree City: Yes – 1 point
Trash per Person: 1,890.14 – 1 points
Percent Recycled: 15 percent – 2 points
Residential Energy Programs: 8.35 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 4.93 percent – 1 point

Milford
8 Green Points – 164th
People per Sq Mile: 2,026.82 – 3 points
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,614.04 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: Not Reported – 0 points
Residential Energy Programs: 9.85 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 6.22 percent – 1 point

New Britain
8 Green Points – 164th
People per Sq Mile: 5,459.18 – 0 points
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,195.56 – 3 points
Percent Recycled: 13.2 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 11.03 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 10.6 percent – 2 points

Waterbury
8 Green Points – 164th
People per Sq Mile: 3,795.41 – 1 point
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,515.13– 2 points
Percent Recycled: 10.1 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 12.45 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 9.08 percent – 2 points

Ansonia
7 Green Points – 167th
People per Sq Mile: 3,090 – 1 point
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,362.64 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: 6.6 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 6.89 percent – 1 point
Municipal & Business Programs: 7.05 percent – 2 points

New Haven
6 Green Points – 168th
People per Sq Mile: 6,498.06 – 0 points
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 1,582.21 – 2 points
Percent Recycled: 14.9 percent – 1 point
Residential Energy Programs: 13.14 percent – 2 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 6.64 percent – 1 point

Bozrah
5 Green Points – 169th
People per Sq Mile: 130.4 – 5 points
Tree City: No – 0 points
Trash per Person: 2,444.06 – 0 points
Percent Recycled: Not Reported – 0 points
Residential Energy Programs: 0 percent – 0 points
Municipal & Business Programs: 0 percent – 0 points


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