By Paul Ploumis

ScrapMonster Author

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Various US states have announced millions of dollars in grants to boost recycling efforts.

The State of New Jersey has granted $14.3 million in grants to local governments across the state in order to implement or enhance recycling efforts in communities. The grants are based on the state’s recycling performance in 2014 and are funded by the $3 per ton surcharge on trash at solid waste facilities. It must be noted that the state had generated approximately nearly 21 million tons of solid waste, out of which nearly 13 million tons were recycled. The largest of the allocated grants include Newark (Essex County), $552,249; Vineland (Cumberland County), $306,675; Jersey City (Hudson County), $298,152; Paterson (Passaic County), $227,130 and Secaucus (Hudson County), $209,815.

The Recycling Market Development Board under the Indiana Department of Environment Management (IDEM) is currently making final funding determinations on various grant requests accepted through October last year. The grants ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 will be allocated to municipalities, nonprofit organizations and public and private businesses doing business in the state. According to IDEM press release, businesses that demonstrate significant increase in recycling material collection and strive hard to raise public awareness of recycling opportunities through innovative outreach and education campaign programs will be eligible for the grant. Latest reports indicate that Shelbyville City has won nearly $120,000, which will be utilized to fund purchase of recycling containers for the planned curbside recycling program.

Also, South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources has recently awarded grants and loans to fund waste management projects in the state. A total of $860,370 was allocated to six solid waste management projects. The main recipients of the grants, administered through the state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are Ecomaniacs ($4,000); The City of Madison ($17,000); The City of Naples ($23,840); The City of Seneca ($23,900) and Tri-County Landfill Association ($3,630).

Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced second round of grants for municipal e-waste assistance. The application period of the grant is open till end-January this year. The funding amount of nearly $1.8 million is aimed to assist New York State municipalities with the unanticipated costs of collecting and recycling eligible electronic wastes. All municipalities within New York State will be eligible to apply for the grant. The initial application period which closed in October this year had generated $1.2 million in grant requests, thereby making the remaining $1.8 million out of the total $3 million available for the second round of funding.

The grants are aimed at boosting recycling efforts in various states, by supporting local recycling efforts to reduce litter.