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Department of Ecology News Release - November 20, 2006
06-242
OLYMPIA -The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has awarded 33 grants totaling some $5 million to support waste reduction and recycling in 12 counties in the agency's southwest region. Statewide, around $18.2 million has been designated for waste reduction and recycling programs at the local and county level.
Every two years, Ecology awards the Coordinated Prevention Grants to local governments to help them manage solid and household hazardous-wastes, prevent illegal dumping and promote recycling and composting programs.
"These grants are important to our efforts to move Washington forward and maintain our well-earned reputation as a clean, green part of the world," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "The real work to reduce waste and promote recycling for a healthier, more sustainable Washington takes place in local communities."
The grants are supported by a tax paid by wholesale distributors of petroleum and other hazardous materials under the voter-approved Model Toxics Control Act of 1989.
Clark County Solid Waste Program will use a $762,469 grant to collect household hazardous waste and educate people on how to compost food waste and beneficially use yard waste. The program aims to properly dispose of 1.7 million pounds of household hazardous waste and divert 130,000 pounds of organic waste from the landfill. Composting opportunities at schools will generate 750,000 pounds of compost and educate more than 20,000 students on beneficial uses. The county also plans to distribute compost bins as an alternative to burning yard waste and educate schoolchildren about waste management at home.
Clark County Health Department will use a $99,729 grant to support solid waste enforcement activities while providing regulatory oversight and assistance. As a result of these efforts the health department expects to bring into compliance all permitted solid waste handling facilities under its jurisdiction. Over the next two years, the health department will cleanup and work to decrease existing illegal dump sites.
Skamania County Public Works will use its grant for $117,456 to operate a drop-box recycling program, which will increase the recycling rate to 60 percent over two years.
Skamania County Health Department will use a $37,500 grant to conduct solid waste permitting and enforcement and provide regulatory oversight and assistance. The county expects to resolve 20 incidents of solid waste code violations over two years.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will use $307,611 in grant funding to support a number of waste management and education programs and resolve 150 solid waste code violations. The department will recycle 118 tons of used oil through the continued operation of a network of 10 used oil collection tanks. Hazardous waste education programs will target both residential and business audiences, resulting in increased awareness of 10,000 residents and 40 businesses. This effort will also educate 80 percent of dental practices in Pierce County about amalgam waste management practices.
Pierce County Solid Waste will use $862,294 in grant funding to continue operating facilities that collect household and small business hazardous wastes. The grant will also help fund a comprehensive education and outreach campaign to residents about county recycling and waste reduction programs. The county aims to have 84 percent of county residents aware of the recycling and solid waste programs as well as have at least 15,000 residents participating in the programs.
Thurston County Environmental Health will use a grant for $383,902 to investigate solid waste complaints and take enforcement action on offenders and to support numerous other programs. The program will collect and properly disposing of 565,848 pounds of used oil. In addition, the county will provide technical assistance and outreach to 100 businesses that generate small quantities of hazardous waste and offer educational materials to the public on how to properly handle and manage waste.
Thurston County Water & Waste Management will use $190,967 in grant funds to operate mobile recycling and hazardous waste collection programs. These programs will increase recycling participation by 10 percent and prevent improper disposal of over 24 tons of hazardous waste. The county will use grant funding to target industries that have photographic fixer as part of their waste stream and will also work with the construction industry to write identify barriers to recycling of construction and demolition materials. Grant money will be used to develop a program to help other agencies and businesses purchase less-toxic and more recycled-content products.
Cowlitz County Department of Public Works will use a $171,000 grant for two projects. First, it will use the grant to sell backyard composting bins at a reduced rate in order to divert 185 tons of yard waste from the landfill. Second, it will maintain and operate the hazardous waste collection and disposal project that will divert more than 650 tons of material over two years.
Cowlitz County Department of Building and Planning will use a $99,729 grant to investigate up to 100 illegal dump complaints and conduct various solid waste enforcement activities. Also, the county will provide regulatory oversight of permitted solid waste handling facilities by reviewing facility permit applications, completing semiannual inspections of six permitted facilities and completing annual inspections at each of the four exempt solid waste handling facilities.
City of Longview will use a $78,709 grant to develop education and outreach materials that will support Earth Day activities and increase awareness of city residents about local recycling opportunities.
City of Kelso will use a $15,000 grant to increase the residential recycling rate by 1 percent. The city will do this through an education and outreach campaign concerning the importance of recycling. The campaign will use newspaper articles, radio, television ads, and more.
Wahkiakum Heath Department will use an $18,600 grant to conduct solid waste enforcement activities. These will include investigating and resolving over 12 illegal dump complaints and providing more than 50 consultations.
Wahkiakum Public Works will use a $63,375 grant to increase cardboard recycling and reduce operating costs by 10 percent. It will also update the Wahkiakum County Solid Waste Management Plan and update the solid waste community education plan for schools and the community.
Pacific County Department of Community Development will use $236,023 in grants to collect 85 tons of hazardous waste by maintaining operations of the moderate-risk waste facility (collecting household and small business hazardous waste) and satellite locations. The county will also use the grant for enforcement and to support four solid waste facilities in the county. The goal is to investigate 600 illegal dump sites and provide education and technical assistance that will divert 1,900 tons of material from improper disposal.
Grays Harbor County Environmental Health will use a $99,729 grant to support solid waste technical assistance, compliance and enforcement activities. It will do this by responding to 200 complaints involving illegal dumping or improper handling of solid waste by the public. It will also provide 130 technical assistance consultations, review or issue 34 solid waste permits and conduct 74 inspections of permitted facilities. The county will also use the grant to locate and identify all closed and abandoned landfills in the county. It will determine the global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates of these landfills and catalog them in a database.
Grays Harbor County will use a $219,601 grant to collect more than 1 million pounds of hazardous waste from residents and businesses. In partnership with the local Master Gardener foundation, the county will use grant funds to support backyard composting programs and other methods to divert 148,000 pounds of yard waste from landfills. It will increase public awareness and knowledge about solid waste management and sustainability through various campaigns. These include the online exchange of household items and building materials (2good2toss.com) that will increase the recycling rate by 5 percent.
Lewis County Health and Social Services Department will use a $99,729 grant to inspect permitted facilities, investigate and resolve 100 solid waste incidents and provide technical assistance and consultations to the public and businesses.
Lewis County Department of Community Development will use a $222,193 grant to carry out several initiatives. It will collect and properly dispose of 400 tons of hazardous waste and provide technical assistance to businesses and the public, increasing awareness about hazardous waste. The county plans to conduct a special event to collect cathode ray tubes and televisions to prevent improper disposal or dumping of many of these products. The county will partner with the Lewis County -WSU Cooperative Extension to decrease yard waste disposal in landfills by 5 percent per capita. The partnership will provide education and outreach about backyard composting. In addition, county staff will work with Centralia/Chehalis Chamber of Commerce to promote commercial waste reduction and recycling through a technical assistance program.
City of Port Angeles will use a $177,147 grant to collect 135 tons of household hazardous waste at its moderate-risk waste facility and satellite collection locations. The city will increase citizen and student awareness of waste reduction and recycling through a media campaign and school presentations, with a goal to increase the county recycling rate by 10 percent.
Clallam County Environmental Health will use $128,729 in grants to support permit compliance activities, technical assistance and "green building" awareness. County staff will permit and inspect nine solid waste facilities, investigate complaints and make other routine inspections and provide technical assistance. They will promote the use of the hazardous waste collection facility, educate residents about the hazards of the materials they use and provide technical assistance to 40 businesses that produce hazardous waste. They will also partner with North Peninsula Building Association to form a "green building" committee to increase local builder and developer awareness of the environmentally conscious green building initiative and to certify "Built Green" homes in Clallam County.
Clallam County Public Works will use a $7,500 grant to improve efficiency and increase by 40 percent the collection of recyclables at drop-box recycling areas.
Jefferson County Environmental Health will use $139,729 in grants to permit and inspect eight solid waste handling facilities in the county, investigate 600 complaints and reduce repeat offenders through education and outreach. They will partner with schools to produce an organics and composting educational video starring local schoolchildren. The video will premiere throughout the community on community television, in public service announcements and at local movie theaters. The county will also expand participation in the existing county EnviroStars Program that works with local businesses to reduce solid and hazardous waste.
Jefferson County Public Works will use a $92,657 grant to collect 116 tons of household hazardous waste at its fixed facility and satellite locations. Through education and outreach, the county will increase use of its hazardous-waste collection services by 36 percent and increase collection of mercury by 10 percent.
City of Tacoma will use a $305,000 grant to continue operating two moderate-risk waste facilities collecting household and small business hazardous waste and to participate in the updating of the Tacoma-Pierce County Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). As part of a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling program, the city plans to develop an electronics take-back network. In this network, businesses will register as take-back locations for residential and business electronic products. The city will also expand curbside recycling to 100 commercial businesses and 50 multifamily residences. It will divert 193 tons of yard waste by subsidizing the sale of backyard composting bins and mulching mowers, and it will participate in the Northwest Natural Yard Care program, as well. The city will conduct a holiday waste-reduction campaign, promoting business services as an alternative to purchased goods. It will also promote green building and natural lawn care by maintaining and hosting the Tacoma EnviroHouse display. Lastly, through networking and education the city will teach its staff about the product-stewardship principles.
City of Shelton Public Works will use a $50,000 grant to keep 48,100 pounds of organic materials out of the landfill. The city will promote recycling of organic materials through education, sales of compost bins and collection events. Through outreach, the city will increase participation in curbside recycling by 5 percent and will also work to increase recycling by schools and multifamily residents.
Mason County Public Works will use a $137,799 grant to collect 190 tons of household hazardous waste at a fixed facility and at two satellite collection sites. It will also continue its partnership with Kitsap County to serve approximately 700 residents in north Mason County. Public works staff will educate and inform residents about recycling services and alternatives to disposal. This outreach effort will result in more recycled material collected in unincorporated areas and at drop-box recycling locations. In addition, the county will expand recycling efforts at county offices.
Mason County Environmental Health will use a $99,729 grant on enforcement and compliance activities. Staff will respond to 300 complaints involving illegal dumping or improper handling of solid waste by the public. They will also provide 3,000 technical consultations and inspect permitted biosolids sites.
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Ecology media contact: Kim Schmanke, public information manager, (360) 407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
