Massachusetts’ Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4 Million to 285 Municipalities and Regional Groups for Recycling and Waste Reduction

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $4 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants to 285 municipalities and regional solid waste districts, that will help communities maximize their recycling, composting and waste reduction programs.

“Every day, communities across Massachusetts are taking important steps towards environmental protection and sustainability through waste reduction,” saidEnergy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This funding will further empower municipalities to implement innovative programs and policies that are proven to maximize reuse, recycling, and composting.”

“The Recycling Dividends Program helps communities leverage the benefits of increased reuse, recycling, composting, and waste reduction initiatives for a healthier economy and environment,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “This is another example of MassDEP’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with our cities and towns to build a more sustainable future.”

MassDEP’s SMRP Program provides funding for recycling, composting, reuse, and source reduction activities that will reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills and incinerators. Waste prevention and recycling reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing the embodied energy in everyday products and packaging waste and converting it into new products. More than $60 million has been awarded through the program since 2010.

This year, 278 communities qualified for the Recycling Dividends Program and will receive funding totaling more than $3 million. This program recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction. Communities receiving funding must reinvest in their own municipal recycling efforts. Under the program, 12 municipalities are being awarded grants of more than $50,000: Attleboro, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester.

Additional grant funds are being awarded to support start-up incentives for Pay-As-You-Throw programs, containers to direct mattresses to recycling facilities, wheeled carts for curbside collection of food waste, equipment for the collection of mercury-bearing items, and regional small-scale initiatives.

MassDEP also is awarding five large-scale grants for municipal projects that will expand the scope or effectiveness of reuse, recycling, composting, or household hazardous waste programs. These include a grant for $250,000 to the City of Lawrence to establish a permanent household hazardous waste facility for use by residents of Lawrence and neighboring Methuen. The Town of Winchester will receive nearly $150,000 in funds to install an aerobic digestor to manage the Town’s residential food waste. Three additional large-scale grants were awarded to the cities of Brookline, New Bedford and Newton for waste reduction and reuse projects, totaling more than $250,000.

Other grant awards include:

•          16 municipalities received funding to create a Reuse Swap Shop to facilitate reuse of durable household goods at their drop-off facilities; $6,000 was awarded to each.
•          13 communities were awarded funds to purchase a Universal Waste Sheds for their drop-off facilities for the collection of mercury-bearing items; $5,000 was awarded to each.
•          4 municipalities were awarded wheeled-cart grants for the curbside collection of food waste, totaling almost $130,000.
•          Finally, one municipality received funding to start a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste reduction program. PAYT is a program where residents purchase pre-printed bags, stickers, or tags for trash disposal to pay directly for waste generated, is a proven waste reduction strategy that continues to be a priority for MassDEP.

“As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I know that reducing, reusing, and recycling (in that order!) our plastics and other waste materials keep our communities clean and protect our shared planetary and personal health,” said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “These grants play an important role in supporting and supplementing our towns’ recycling and waste reduction efforts.”

“As House Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I am proud to see the continued investment in programs that help our communities reduce waste, maximize recycling, and promote sustainability,” said Representative Dan Cahill (D-Lynn). “The funding provided through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program is a crucial step in supporting municipalities as they work to implement effective recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. By focusing on initiatives such as Pay-As-You-Throw, mattress containers and curbside food waste collection, we are taking a comprehensive approach to tackling the waste management challenges of today, while also fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future for all residents.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com