$1.4 Million in Massachusetts Recycling Grants Announced

One hundred and seven communities and groups in Massachusetts were awarded recycling and waste reduction grants totaling $1.4 million. Funds were awarded for a variety of activities, including:

• Pay-as-you-throw start up costs: Falmouth, Brewster, Hamilton, Harvard, Newton, Templeton, Wenham, and Weston
• Wheeled curbside collection carts: Marlborough, Pembroke, Easton, Boston, and Franklin
• Large containers for collecting materials at municipal transfer stations: 23 communities
• Funding for recycling coordinators: Arlington & Cape Cod
• Pilot and innovative waste reduction projects: 14 projects
• Small-scale initiatives such as outreach, compost bins, and public recycling bins: 62 communities

Thirteen communities received funding to buy large storage bins to collect bulky rigid plastics, such as laundry baskets, plastic lawn furniture, and crates- items that don't fit in a home recycling bin and usually don't get recycled. The demand for this type of plastic has increased, making it viable and cost-effective to increase recycling efforts to collect these items.

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod was awarded $50,000 to open a retail store for used and surplus building materials and home goods. Lexington received $40,000 to help develop an anaerobic digestion facility at the site of its closed landfill. Cambridge was awarded $60,000 to pilot a curbside food waste collection. Malden was given a $30,000 grant to set up a residential carpet recycling pilot program.

An alphabetical list of the city, town, or regional group that has been awarded a grant, along with a description of each grant can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/recawgr.htm#awards