RALEIGH –  In its continuing efforts to assist local governments and not-for-profit agencies in expanding, improving and implementing waste reduction programs in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) has awarded 22 organizations with community waste reduction and recycling grants totaling $355,595.

Funding was awarded during April in three categories: buy recycled, backyard composting and general. Grant awards came from North Carolina’s Solid Waste Management Trust Fund, supported by partial proceeds from a fee on the sale of new tires, a tax on virgin newsprint, and an advanced disposal fee on white goods (appliances). This trust fund provides funding for a range of solid waste management activities. 

The selected projects include: 

• McDowell County ($3,600) will implement a backyard composting program to help reduce the amount of organic waste managed by the county. Contact: Daniel Smith, McDowell County – N.C. Cooperative Extension, (828) 652-8104.
• Pasquotank County ($5,000) will test-pave a county convenience site using crushed glass as a component of the asphalt mix. Elizabeth City Glass, a local glass recycling company, will provide the glass. Contact: Mike Etheridge, Pasquotank County Solid Waste, (252) 335-4105.
• The town of Hope Mills ($4,140) will purchase and test trash receptacles and park benches made of recycled plastic. Contact: Cindy Murray, Town of Hope Mills, (910) 424-4555.
• The town of Kernersville ($3,780) will implement a buy recycled program for the town and local businesses and provide training to government and business officials on how to buy recycled content products. Contact: Mylinda Jacobsen, Town of Kernersville, (336) 996-6417.
• New Hanover County ($25,000) will implement a construction and demolition debris recycling program at the county’s landfill. Contact: Jason Hale, New Hanover County, (910) 341-4373.
• Mecklenburg County ($25,000) will expand an existing educational program to include smaller municipalities within the county. Contact: Ann Gill, Mecklenburg County Solid Waste, (704) 336-5359.
• Iredell County ($22,000), in cooperation with the city of Statesville, Iredell-Statesville School System, and Mitchell Community College, will increase recycling opportunities in the county and expand the promotion of local waste reduction programs. Contact: Carla Parks, Iredell County Solid Waste, (704) 928-2023. 
• Madison County ($11,365) will make changes to the county’s collection system to increase recycling and improve the program’s cost-effectiveness. Contact: Jim Brown, Madison County Solid Waste, 
  (828) 649-2311.
• Wayne Opportunity Center ($25,000) will purchase trailers and a baler that will allow increased collection and processing of mixed paper and corrugated cardboard in the region. Contact: Carol Bender, Wayne Opportunity Center, (919) 735-5363. 
• Orange County ($25,000) will purchase a glass crusher to improve the efficiency of the county’s mixed and green glass recycling programs. Contact: Blair Pollock, Orange Community Recycling, (919) 968-2788.
• Perquimans, Chowan, Gates Solid Waste Management Commission ($24,520) will implement a program to recover end-of-life mobile homes in the three-county region. Contact: Anne Blindt, Albemarle Regional Solid Waste Authority, (252) 338-4458.
• Keep Wayne County Beautiful ($25,000) will implement a mixed paper and corrugated cardboard recycling program at all Wayne County public schools and school administration buildings. Contact: Simonne Cato, Keep Wayne County Beautiful, (919) 731-1600.
• Tyrrell County ($3,960) will purchase recycling bins and develop a new educational program to help increase participation in the county’s waste reduction program. Contact: J.D. Brickhouse, Tyrrell County, (252) 796-1371.
• Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County ($15,000) will purchase a forklift and baler and will develop an advertising campaign to increase the amount of construction material recovered for reuse or recycling annually. Contact: Jim Morris, Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, (336) 765-8854.
• The town of Woodfin ($13,850) will implement a new curbside recycling program and develop an educational campaign to support the new program. Contact: Jason Young, Town of Woodfin, 
  (828) 253-4887.
• The Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem ($20,000) will purchase a bucket loader to improve the efficiency and increase the recovery of a recently implemented aerated bin composting program. Contact: Patricia Lynn Byrd, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, (336) 727-2236.
• The city of Charlotte ($23,500) will develop a multifaceted education program targeted at increasing the recycling participation of residents in historically low participating areas of the city. Contact: Brandi Williams, City of Charlotte, (704) 336-6684. 
• Hyde County ($11,145) will make improvements at county convenience centers, develop an educational campaign, and distribute recycling bins to improve the performance of the county’s waste reduction program. Contact: Don Davenport, Hyde County, (252) 946-4400.
• Buncombe County ($20,000) will build a collection center and purchase a forklift as part of a permanent household hazardous waste and electronic waste management program. Contact: Denise Ballew, Buncombe County, (828) 250-5425.
• Scotland County ($20,000) will build a permanent household hazardous waste management facility including recycling programs for latex paint, used motor oil, used antifreeze and lead-acid batteries. Contact: Steven Edge, Scotland County, (910) 277-2421.
• The city of Conover ($12,735) will purchase a truck-mounted cage for the curbside collection of plastic bottles. The city will also purchase a mobile recycling trailer that will allow for increased collection of recyclable materials. Contact: Matt Cook, City of Conover, (828) 464-4808.
• Franklin County ($16,000) will purchase collection containers and expand the county’s mixed paper recycling program to all Franklin County schools and county office buildings. Contact: John Faulkner, Franklin County Solid Waste, (919) 496-5002.

For more information, please contact Jim Hickman, DPPEA waste reduction specialist, at (919) 715-6528/6500. 

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