  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - November 20, 2006
06-245
YAKIMA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has awarded 12 grants totaling nearly $2.3 million to support waste reduction and recycling projects in seven counties in the agency's central 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.
Okanogan County Department of Public Works will use a $168,442 grant to collect and properly dispose of 110 drums of household hazardous wastes, including batteries and used syringes, in two years. The county will also operate collection and education programs on waste reduction and recycling for both residential and commercial audiences.
Okanogan County Public Health will use a $99,729 grant to tackle illegal dumping. The program estimates it will respond to 240 complaints in two years, enforce cleanup of 110 illegal dumps, and decrease the number of repeat offenders below five percent. The county health department will also use the money to conduct solid-waste facility permitting, inspection, monitoring, complaint response, consultation, and enforcement for four active and four closed facilities. Under the plan, the health department will develop a comprehensive solid waste enforcement tracking and evaluation system to monitor the effectiveness of the program and make improvements or respond to emerging solid waste issues.
Benton County Solid Waste Department will use a $368,064 grant to collect and properly dispose of more than 410,000 pounds of hazardous waste from homes and businesses. The solid waste program also plans to use the funds to recycle more than 340,000 pounds of wood chips from woody debris and 108,000 pounds of paper in two years. Also, the county will update its comprehensive solid waste management plan.
Benton-Franklin Health District will use a $149,589 grant for solid waste facility inspection, permitting, and consultation for 26 permitted facilities. It will also carry out investigation, enforcement, and public education on proper handling methods in response to improper solid waste management. The health district will conduct an annual review of exempt recycling facilities. It will also identify and catalog closed solid waste sites.
Chelan County Solid Waste will use a $218,218 grant for several projects. The county will collect 2,270 tons of recyclable materials, buy a recycling bin, process 1,000 tons of metal for recycling at an appliance collection event, and mulch 1,500 Christmas trees in two years. The county projects it will collect and properly dispose of, 65,000 pounds of hazardous waste from households and 5,000 pounds from small businesses. It will operate a compost facility, which will convert organic wastes into 420 cubic yards of compost in two years. The county will also update its solid waste management plan.
Chelan-Douglas Health District will use a $149,589 grant for investigating and correcting illegal dumping and improper solid waste handling through education, technical assistance, or enforcement. The health district will also use the grant for solid waste facility permitting, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement. In addition, the grant will enable the health county to inspect delegated biosolids facilities, respond to complaints, and comment on Ecology's biosolids permitting and enforcement.
Countywide Solid Waste Programs of Douglas County will use a $141,365 grant to fund several activities. From 700 households, the County will collect 40 tons of household hazardous waste, of which 6.5 tons will be recycled. It will also collect two tons of hazardous waste from eight businesses. The county will conduct two events to collect unwanted electronic products, and will recycle 120 units from households and 200 units from businesses and schools. It will also operate a drop-box recycling program throughout the county, which will recycle 500 tons of paper, glass, metal, plastic, printer cartridges, nickel-cadmium batteries, auto batteries, auto tires, and appliances. The county will purchase three recycling trailers to expand the program.
Kittitas County Solid Waste will use a $161,874 grant to carry out different programs. The county will collect and properly dispose of an average of 162 pounds of hazardous materials per customer at two moderate-risk waste facilities. It will also collect and recycle tires, vehicle batteries, tin, aluminum, plastics, glass, magazines, newspaper, cardboard, yard waste, Christmas trees, junk vehicles, and other metals. Finally, the county will conduct education programs, including classes on backyard composting and providing schools and other groups with educational materials that promote waste reduction and recycling.
Kittitas County Public Health Department will use a $99,729 grant for several projects. These include solid waste facility permitting, monitoring, and enforcement. The County will also use this funding for improving solid waste complaint investigation, violation compliance, and enforcement activities. The final project will be developing options for conducting an inventory of abandoned dumps and landfills.
Yakima County Public Services, Solid Waste Division will use a $493,195 grant to operate two moderate-risk waste collection facilities and satellite used oil stations. These locations will collect and properly recycle or dispose of more than 2,200 tons of hazardous wastes. Wastes collected will include paint, oil, thinners, antifreeze, herbicides, acids, bases, fluorescent tubes, batteries, propane tanks, corrosives, oxidizers, toxic liquids, toxic solids, caustics, and flammable liquids. The county will also update its moderate risk waste plan.
Yakima Health District will use a $99,729 grant for two sets of activities. First, the health district will conduct inspection and monitoring of solid waste and delegated biosolids facilities, complaint response for 16 permitted facilities, and review of biosolids land application plans. The health district also will investigate and enforce illegal dumping and improper solid waste handling. This set of activities will include handling more than 300 complaints, 278 initial site visits, 548 follow-up visits, 528 consultations, and 314 resolved cases over the next two years.
Klickitat County Solid Waste will use a $123,343 grant to fund several projects. The county will collect and properly recycle or dispose of 120 tons of household and small business hazardous waste at four facilities, and will also collect 14,000 gallons of used oil. To recycle unwanted electronic products, the county will collect 800 computers, 850 computer monitors, and 700 televisions. It will also conduct an education program aimed at proper handling of residential and commercial hazardous wastes, waste reduction and recycling, and home composting. Working with the Master Gardeners, the county will create a xeriscape demonstration site to promote an aesthetic landscape alternative that reduces the need for water, chemicals, and maintenance labor.
# # #
Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
