State Offers Grants to Encourage 
Reducing Organic Wastes

RALEIGH –  The state is offering grants to public or private agencies that develop programs to reduce organic (biodegradable) solid wastes that go to landfills.

The North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) announced the new program this week to encourage projects that will send less organic waste to state landfills.

Gary Hunt, director of the agency, said “Organic solid wastes are a significant portion of North Carolina's solid wastes. Diverting those wastes from landfills will help the state meet its goal of 40 percent solid waste reduction by June 30, 2001.”

The new grants program will support public and/or private sector projects that meet one or both of two goals: projects that result in a sustainable, well-documented diversion of organic wastes from the waste stream; and projects that stimulate market demand for composts and other recycled organic wastes.

Selected projects will be funded up to a maximum of $25,000 per project. Applicants must provide a cash match equivalent to 10 percent of their grant request. Proposals are due December 1, 1998.

For more information, please contact Craig Coker, DPPEA's organics recycling coordinator, at (919) 715-6524.

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