RALEIGH –  The Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to sixteen North Carolina counties, towns and not-for-profit agencies to create, expand or improve local waste reduction and recycling programs.

Grant categories funded include backyard composting, swap shops and paper waste reduction. Funding for the Solid Waste Reduction Assistance Grant Program comes from the state’s Solid Waste Management Trust Fund, which receives funds from a one percent tax on the sale of tires and from the advanced disposal fee associated with the purchase of new appliances. Since its inception in 1990, the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund has provided approximately $5 million in funding through grant cycles for more than 350 projects in North Carolina.

"Recipients of this year's grants are showing leadership in expanding and improving their waste reduction programs," said Scott Mouw, chief of DPPEA's Community and Business Assistance Section. "Their efforts will provide considerable benefits to both the environment and to local communities statewide."

Projects selected for funding include:

• The Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) will develop and conduct three workshops on the implementation of local electronics recycling programs. Contact Kerry Krumsiek at (919) 545-9050.
• The town of Beaufort will conduct a reduced-price backyard compost distribution program for town residents. Contact John Young at (252) 728-2141.
• New Hanover County will implement a mixed waste paper recycling program. Contact Jason Hale at (910) 341-4373.
• Bladen County will install swap shops at several county convenience centers. Contact Gloria Dove at (910) 645-4279.
• Cabarrus County will sell compost bins to county's residents, offer composting classes, and upgrade its existing compost demonstration site. Contact Eileen Sousley at (704) 920-3279.
• Keep Gastonia Beautiful will construct a compost demonstration site with educational signage, construct two portable vermicomposting bins and corresponding classroom education materials, and conduct a truckload sale of a minimum of 100 compost bins for residents. Contact Carol Maxwell at (704) 869-1008.
• Coastal Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (CRSWMA) will implement a latex paint recovery program in Carteret, Pamlico and Craven counties. Contact Allen Hardison at (252) 633-1564.
• Greene County will purchase new recycling containers and increase signage and educational materials at county convenience sites. Contact David Jones at (252) 747-5720.
• Pasquotank County will install equipment to improve the efficiency of its commercial paper recycling programs to increase material collection and reduce operating costs. Contact Mike Etheridge at (252) 335-4105.
• Chowan, Gates, Bertie, Hertford and Northampton counties will participate in an oil recycling program utilizing double-walled plastic recycling containers distributed to area farms. Contact Rodney Johnson at (252) 482-7437.
• The Food Bank of North Carolina will purchase equipment to improve efficiency of sorting and to increase the volume of eggs distributed to four foodbank warehouses throughout the state. Contact Jane Cox at (919) 875-0707.
• The Scrap Exchange will seek to initiate a pilot recycling program at the North Carolina State Fair. Contact Faye Miller at (919) 688-6960.
• Wake County will expand its electronics recycling program to include new items. Contact Kelley Dennings at (919) 856-5277.
• Caldwell County will construct swap sheds at the Connelly Springs, Coy Miller and Cheraw staffed collection centers to accept reusable household goods. Contact Don McDonald at (828) 728-5788.
• The town of Kernersville will initiate a project for collection of corrugated cardboard from various commercial customers. Contact Mylinda Jacobsen at (336) 996-6417.
• Classroom Central will purchase equipment to turn reused and donated materials into usable educational tools for needy school children in Mecklenburg County. Contact Karen Calder at (704) 377-1740.

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

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