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DEP Awards Recycling Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $17.8 million in grants for recycling programs to 131 municipalities and counties in the 53rd round of grants since passage of the PA Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act in 1988.

Municipalities in Allegheny County will receive a total of $985,507.00; Beaver, $324,934.00; Cambria, $231,843.00; Somerset, $140,052.00; Washington, $246,861.00.

This particular type of grant is for development and implementation of recycling programs in municipalities with more than 10,000 residents or with densities greater than 300 people per square mile. 

Lisa Kasianowitz, DEP spokeswoman, said, "We’ve been giving out these grants for a long time.  We’ve got 2,700 municipalities in Pennsylvania; 440 of those are required to recycle.  These municipalities are having to implement these programs by law, and they apply to DEP with (sic) help with that.  We look at all the municipalities that apply for the grants and we give out the grants based on their need.”

Eligible projects include composting programs, expanding processing facilities, implementing curbside recycling, and developing educational materials for residents.

The DEP also awards other types of recycling grants, according to Kasianowitz, e.g., recycling performance grants based on how many tons are recycled.