Peg Hall Says Farewell To Green Job On Earth Day

As Branford commemorated Earth Day on Thursday, the town lost a valuable resource.

Margaret ​“Peg” Hall, who has pioneered recycling and waste management in Branford for 22 years, was honored at a retirement party.

Town officials presented Hall with a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her dedication and commitment. During the ceremonies, students from Mary T. Murphy Elementary School planted a Centurian Crabapple tree in Hall’s honor.

“She’s done a wonderful job,” said First Selectman Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos. ​“It’s going to be a vacuum without her. She’s always had the best interests of the town at heart.”

Hall said it wasn’t a coincidence that her retirement and Earth Day coincided. ​“It just seemed like the right time,” she said during an interview. ​“I’m going to spend more time with family and friends.”

Hall believes it’s important for everyone to be good stewards of the earth. ​“We share the same air and we share the same water.”

When Hall was hired as the town’s first recycling coordinator in 1988, there was only one voluntary newspaper drive a month, and garbage was hauled to the local landfill. Curbside recycling began one year after she entered office and has expanded ever since. Hall, who was appointed solid waste manager in 1992, oversaw the establishment of the transfer station, which sends garbage to waste-to-fuel plants rather than a landfill.

Other notable programs have begun under her tenure.

“Branford was the first town in the state to have permanent collection for electronics and televisions,” Hall said, noting that the program that began in 1999 was also one of the first in the nation. ​“We’ve been a model.”

She credits town officials, staff and volunteers for enabling the changes. ​“I loved my time working in Branford,” Hall said. ​“It’s a wonderful town with so many people who care about the environment.”

DaRos said Hall has gained status in the state because of her knowledge and dedication. 

“We’re going to miss her and the state will too. She’s done a lot of work with legislative bills. She’s always going up to Hartford to testify and they listen to her. She’s very knowledgeable.”

She recently testified in support of a proposed legislative bill that would require paint manufacturers to pay for recycling or disposal of leftover paint cans. The Paint Stewardship Pilot Program bill is co-sponsored by State Rep. Lonnie Reed, D‑Branford; State Rep. Pat Widlitz, D‑Branford and Guilford; and State Sen. Ed Meyer, D‑12.

Widlitz, who introduced the bill, announced yesterday it had passed the House by a unanimous vote. It now goes to the Senate. 

She also worked with Widlitz to help secure passage of an electronics recycling bill that established a statewide recycling plan for electronics and requires manufactures to be responsible for the costs of recycling their products.

“She’s well-respected in the recycling community and has had a good deal of influence at the capitol,” said Mario Ricozzi, who chairs the town’s Solid Waste Management Commission.

Ricozzi, who has been on the commission about 10 years, said Hall has worked to improve the environment and has helped change the way people think about the environment. ​“She certainly makes it easy to be on the commission,” he said.

“I think she’s done a lot for the town, the state and for recycling,” said Branford’s Town Engineer Janice Plaziak. ​“Branford won’t be the same without her.”

Local environmentalist Bill Horne lauded Hall’s accomplishments. ​“I think Peg has done a tremendous job in terms of being forward-looking. …She has done a great service for the town.”

Hall was a founding member of both the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition and HazWaste Central; and is a charter member of the Connecticut Product Stewardship Council.

“She’s been the driving force,” said DaRos.

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