Last week $37 million in Recycling Development and Implementation Grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection were announced and three politicians announced separately that municipalities in MoreThanTheCurve.com’s coverage area are on the receiving end of grants. It is an election year (at least for Governor Wolf and State Representative Mary Joe Daley).
The grants are geared towards programs impacting recycling collection and leaf pick-up. Conshohocken is getting a sweet $212,363. Plymouth Township is getting $172,629 and Whitemarsh Township $94,057.
We emailed Conshohocken’s Borough Manager asking what the grant was for, but did not receive a response back. We think its to help pay for the new recycling containers.
Note – In a previous version of this article we mentioned that the Borough is no longer going to collect leaves. We meant grass clippings.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/12/2018
CONTACT:
Neil Shader, DEP
717-787-1323
Wolf Administration Boosts Local Recycling and Leaf Collection Programs
Nearly 200 county and municipal governments will expand collections
Harrisburg, PA – Nearly 200 county and municipal governments will be getting a boost to their recycling and leaf collection programs this year, thanks to $37 million in Recycling Development and Implementation Grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Grants were awarded to 195 county and municipal governments for recycling collections and education, as well as leaf litter pickup.
“By providing these grants, we are helping bolster recycling in communities all over Pennsylvania, and reduce the amount of material going into our landfills,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Whether it’s from increased education for residents or an entire facility for sorting recyclables, these grants are making a difference.”
Many of the grants are for community leaf collection programs. Leaf litter cannot be sent to landfills, and many municipalities prohibit open burning.
“Composting leaf waste from residential areas is a good practice,” said McDonnell. “It allows a beneficial use of the leaves that fall every year, and cuts down on air pollution from burning leaves.”
Through the grant program, municipalities and counties in Pennsylvania are eligible for up to 90 percent funding of approved recycling program costs. Municipalities that are designated financially distressed under the Financial Distressed Communities Act are eligible to receive funding for an additional 10 percent of approved costs. Grants were also awarded based on programs designed to meet current market demands for recyclable goods.
Examples of eligible projects include operating leaf compost facilities; developing web-based programs on recycling for consumers; expanding recycling processing facilities; installing data collection systems on recycling vehicles; continuing and creating curbside recycling programs; and developing educational materials to encourage residents to properly recycle.
The awardees and grant amounts, alphabetically by county:
Montgomery County:
Abington Township $350,000
Cheltenham Township $348,422
Conshohocken Borough $212,363
Douglass Township $99,807
East Norriton Township $199,961
Hatboro Borough $236,123
Jenkintown Borough $170,100
Lower Merion Township $314,987
Plymouth Township $172,629
Upper Dublin Township $328,849
Upper Moreland Township $350,000
West Norriton Township $93,492
Whitemarsh Township $94,057
Please note that MoreThanTheCurve.com edited out all the other counties.
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Hughes: Recycling Grants Approved for Philadelphia, Conshohocken, Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin
Harrisburg – October 12, 2018 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said today that nearly $1 million total in grant funding to aid recycling efforts has been approved for several municipalities in his senatorial district.
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved grant funding for Philadelphia ($350,000), Conshohocken ($212,363), Whitemarsh ($94,057) and Upper Dublin ($328,849). The funds will be used to support leaf collection, education and recycling collections.
“Our environmental challenges grow each day, so it is critical that actions are taken at all levels of government to protect our natural resources,” Hughes said. “Removing recyclables from the waste stream reduces the stress on landfills and protects the environment. Thank you to Gov. Tom Wolf, and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell for funding green initiatives and pushing Pennsylvania forward on this front.”
Hughes said that support of municipal leaf recycling efforts not only reduces material in landfills, but also curtails air pollution since many citizens would likely burn the leaves if recycling was not available.
The grants for the communities in Hughes’ district were among the nearly 200 grants approved statewide. DEP officials noted that $37 million in recycling grants will be distributed.
“There is far too little attention paid to environmental protection at the federal level,” Hughes said. “State and local governments must be leaders in protecting natural resources.”
Municipalities are eligible for up to 90 percent of costs of a recycling program.
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Daley announces $794,036 in recycling grants for Montgomery County
HARRISBURG, Oct. 17 – State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, announced four municipal recycling programs in her legislative district have been awarded state grants totaling $794,036.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded $37 million in Recycling Development and Implementation Grants to 195 county and municipal governments for recycling collections and education, as well as leaf litter pickup.
Local grants include:
· Conshohocken, $212,363.
· Lower Merion Township, $314,987.
· Plymouth Township, $172,629.
· Whitemarsh Township, $94,057.
“Our state has made a valuable investment in supporting the environmental health of our communities,” Daley said. “Congratulations to all the municipalities within our district for their efforts to help secure these funds.”
Projects eligible for the grants include operating leaf compost facilities, developing web-based programs on recycling for consumers, expanding recycling processing facilities, and continuing or creating curbside recycling programs. Learn more at www.dep.pa.gov.
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