Governor Rendell Announces $20 Million in Grants to Help Counties Institute, Expand Recycling Programs
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ntends to Work with Legislature on Fee Extension to Preserve Popular, Effective Program
HARRISBURG -- Harrisburg – Local recycling and compost programs in 40 counties across Pennsylvania received a boost today as Governor Edward G. Rendell announced $20 million in grants to help support these efforts that employ tens of thousands of people and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.
The 113 recycling development and implementation grants the Governor announced will reimburse municipalities for costs associated with establishing and maintaining recycling and composting programs.
“When someone throws a bottle, can or newspaper in the recycling bin, they’re not only helping to protect our environment and preserve precious resources, they’re supporting an important industry,” said Governor Rendell. “Pennsylvania’s recycling industry is directly responsible for more than 52,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $2 billion; it also generates $20 billion in gross receipts. That’s a substantial impact that’s certainly worthy of the investments we’re making today.
“Beyond that, recycled materials often provide the raw materials for other products. And by using more recycled materials, we also avoid the need to extract additional raw materials from the Earth.”
Act 101 of 1988 required recycling in Pennsylvania’s larger municipalities, required counties to develop municipal waste management plans, and created the Recycling Fund, supported by a $2-per-ton tipping fee on all landfilled materials in the state. The proceeds from the fee provide grants to offset local government expenses.
“This program has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years and continues to support our local municipalities. I intend to work with the General Assembly to amend current statute to extend the recycling fee. Without an extension the funding for these grants will no longer be available and the program will effectively shut down,” noted Governor Rendell.
The Department of Environmental Protection, which administers the program, has already modified its recycling grant programs to operate at reduced funding levels in order to extend financial support to municipal recycling efforts for as long as possible. Even at these reduced levels, however, funding will no longer be available after Dec. 31, 2010, unless the fee is extended.
For more information on recycling grants and Pennsylvania’s Recycling Markets Center, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Recycling.
Editor’s Note: The following is a list by county of the $20 million in Recycling Development and Implementation Grants awarded by Governor Rendell.
Luzerne County
Dallas Area Municipal Authority - Curbside Recycling - $3,330
Dupont Borough - Curbside Recycling - $149,132
Exeter Borough - Yard Waste Program - $473,073
Municipality of Kingston - Yard Waste & Recycling Program - $221,347
Nanticoke City - Curbside Recycling - $54,441
Plains Township - Curbside Recycling - $149,132
West Pittston Borough - Curbside Recycling & Drop-off Collection - $236,782
Wright Township - Yard Waste Program - $383,990
PA Recycling Markets Center Offers Green Share Program to Turn Waste into Raw Materials
The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center is offering both technical and financial project assistance that enables manufacturers and business to turn one company's waste into another company's raw materials through the Green Share Program. The intent of the RMC Green Share Program is to stimulate economic development, workforce development, and commercialization growth in business and industry where a recycled material supports manufacture of a recycled content product.
Qualified businesses are eligible for RMC Green Share of up to 50 percent of a project, with a maximum share from the RMC of $10,000. Applicants are required to develop and share measurable outcomes with the RMC. Equipment purchase, permit fees, and indirect costs are not eligible through the Green Share Program.
Examples of eligible Green Share Program assistance include but are not limited to: product standardization evaluation or testing; feedstock or product analytical testing; engineering/tooling design cost; manufacturing system design costs; and product markets assessment costs. The RMC Green Share Program will be available until May 31, 2009 or until the available Green Share Program budget is exhausted. Interested companies must be engaged through the project duration with the RMC or jointly between the RMC and an approved RMC partnering organization.
For additional information on this limited opportunity, contact the RMC at 717-948-6660 or send email to: info@parmc.org.
Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant
The Department of Environmental Protection announces an upcoming grant opportunity for small businesses undertaking energy efficiency projects. The Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program provides a 25% matching grant, to a maximum award of $25,000, to enable a small business in this Commonwealth to purchase and install energy efficient equipment or processes that will result in improved energy efficiency. An eligible applicant must be an independent for- profit small business with 100 employees or less whose business or facility is located within this Commonwealth.
For questions regarding the eligibility of projects, visit the grant's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program) or contact Dave Barnes, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, Small Business Ombudsman's Office at (717) 783-84111 or ra-sbgrants@state.pa.us before submitting an application. For assistance in submitting an application, persons may also contact the Small Business Development Center's Environmental Management Assistance Program, at www.askemap.org or (877) 275-3627 or the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, at www.penntap.psu.edu or (814) 865-0427. The grant application and guideline package are available on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Small Business Energy Efficiency).
