Recycling Grants Announced
From A Dec.21 PA DEP Release
HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today underscored the importance of municipal recycling efforts to the economy and the environment as he announced state investments that will support new and expanded recycling programs benefiting 10 million people in 134 Pennsylvania communities.
“Recycling is a dynamic and growing enterprise in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell in announcing $20 million through the Recycling Development and Implementation Grant Program.
“The more we recycle, the more natural resources we preserve and the better our environment’s health,” the Governor said. “And, it’s important to recognize that these investments by the commonwealth come back to us in more jobs and a stronger economy.”
In 2005, Pennsylvanians recycled a record 4.86 million tons of municipal waste, saving consumers and industries nearly $263 million in disposal costs and providing businesses with materials valued at $577 million.
The Commonwealth’s recycling and reuse industry includes more than 3,200 establishments with total annual sales of $18.4 billion. The industry employs more than 81,000 people and has an annual payroll of $2.9 billion. Additionally, these businesses add more than $305 million in taxes to the state treasury.
The Recycling Development and Implementation Grant Program reimburses local governments, councils of government, consortiums and solid waste authorities for the cost of municipal recycling and composting programs. Pennsylvania’s recycling program, created under Act 101 of 1988, mandates recycling in the state’s larger municipalities and requires counties to develop municipal waste management plans.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is a partial list of the $20 million of Recycling Development and Implementation Grants announced today.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Auburn - $99,705 to establish yard waste collection and composting programs in the borough.
Frackville – $7,870 to establish a drop-off recycling program in the borough.
Minersville - $121,173 to augment a curbside recycling program in the borough.
Schuylkill County - $234,072 to augment multi-municipal drop-off recycling programs.
BERKS COUNTY
Berks County Solid Waste Authority - $12,555 to enhance the recycling drop-off centers.
Bern Township - $175,278 to implement a curbside recycling and leaf waste program.
Exeter Township - $65,669 to enhance the township’s recycling programs.
Reading - $250,852 to enhance the compost and recycling programs.
West Reading Borough - $25,622 to enhance the curbside leaf waste collection program.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Berwick - $253,238 to improve the borough’s leaf waste collection program.
Bloomsburg - $206,707 to improve operations at the town’s recycling center, and enhance its current recycling program.
DAUPHIN COUNTY
Harrisburg - $220,500 to enhance the composting of yard waste material.
Susquehanna Township - $156,600 to enhance curbside and yard waste collections.
LEBANON COUNTY
Lebanon - $12,910 to provide recycling containers to the Lebanon Catholic High School and Lebanon School District.
Lebanon County - $12,536 to enhance the county recycling programs.
North Cornwall Township - $234,635 to construct a recycling drop-off facility and to purchase recycling containers.
North Lebanon Township - $15,599 to improve upon current drop-off recycling programs by providing larger more efficient collection areas and monitoring.
North Londonderry Township - $366,086 to complete the phase two compost site expansion project.
South Lebanon Township - $69,526 to enhance the curbside collection of leaf waste program.
Union Township - $95,497 to enhance the leaf waste drop-off program.
West Lebanon Township - $74,629 to enhance the township’s leaf waste recycling program.
LEHIGH COUNTY
Allentown - $128,810 to augment a curbside recycling program in the city. All Act 101 materials will be collected.
Lehigh County - $450,000 to augment a multi-municipal yard waste composting program in the county.
Lower Macungie Township - $149,526 to augment curbside recycling and yard waste composting programs.
South Whitehall Township - $4,158 to augment curbside recycling.
Upper Macungie Township - $31,741 to augment a curbside recycling.
Whitehall Township - $4,050 to augment drop-off recycling program.
LUZERNE COUNTY
Dallas - $25,195 to augment curbside recycling and yard waste collections.
Dorrance Township - $88,515 to augment a drop-off recycling program.
Pittston - $6,894 to augment a curbside recycling program.
Plains Township - $152,217 to augment a curbside recycling program.
Plymouth - $85,368 to augment curbside recycling.
Wilkes-Barre - $167,200 to augment a curbside recycling.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Lewis Township - $23,066 to construct a multi-municipal drop-off recycling center.
Northumberland - $7,200 to purchase a scale to weigh recyclables and a shredder for document shredding.
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