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Department of Ecology News Release - November 24, 2008
08-307
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology’s Coordinated Prevention Grant program is funding more than $5 million in local environmental projects from green building and composting/chipping to waste reduction/recycling and product stewardship.
The Coordinated Prevention Grants are awarded by Ecology to local governments to help them manage solid and household hazardous wastes, prevent illegal dumping and promote recycling and composting programs. The grants are made possible by a voter-approved initiative for reducing toxic threats in Washington state.
In awarding the grants, Ecology evaluated requests totaling $10 million for the available $5 million in grant funds. Sixty-five projects were chosen through a competitive process. The grant amounts range from $3,975 to $487,500.
“These grants give local communities the resources to move basic environmental work to a more sustainable level. Much of the money will go to programs that expand recycling, composting and toxics reduction efforts,” said Ecology Director Jay Manning. “A clean, green Washington is good for our public health and our economy. These are innovative projects and we are happy to move them forward.”
Funds were awarded in five categories, with the following totals:
Most of the CPG funding -- $4 million -- is provided by the Legislature through Ecology’s Beyond Waste program, which supports efforts to reduce the amount of waste and toxic substances generated.
These funds come from a hazardous substance tax created by Washington voters when they passed Initiative 97 — the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) — in 1988. It is dedicated specifically to environmental cleanups and protection in Washington state.
Of the $5 million in grant money awarded, $630,000 is going to communities to implement programs that provide safe alternatives to burning yard waste. Burning yard waste in Washington’s designated urban growth areas was phased out over a period of years to protect people and communities from serious human health problems resulting from breathing wood smoke.
In northwestern Washington, Ecology has awarded two-year grants to four counties and six cities for waste reduction and recycling efforts. The $1,832,294 in grants will support 23 projects in this part of the state.
King County Solid Waste Division will receive four grants:
Public Health Seattle & King County will receive $196,143 to investigate permitted and permit exempt recycling facilities in the county. Contact: Bill Lasby, 206-263-8495.
City of Bothell will receive three grants:
City of North Bend will receive $30,000 to enhance the city’s yard waste program by returning to a weekly yard waste collection schedule, diverting 25 tons of organic material annually and providing outreach on composting and natural lawn care. Contact: Kirsten Weinmeister, 425-831-4919 x 23.
City of Seattle will receive three grants:
City of Snoqualmie will receive two grants: $30,000 to enhance Snoqualmie’s the city’s yard waste program through increasing the hours of their yard waste collection site, diverting 50 to 75 tons of organic material annually, and providing outreach on composting and natural lawn care. Contact: Kirsten Weinmeister, 425-831-4919 x 23.
Kitsap County Health Department will receive $100,000 to investigate complaints of illegal dumping and improper solid waste handling and to develop and implement solid waste policies, guidelines and regulations. Contact: Janet Brower, 360-337-5672.
San Juan County Public Works will receive two grants:
Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division will receive three grants:
Snohomish County Health District will receive two grants:
City of Arlington will receive $15,000 to expand its commercial composting program to divert 98 tons of food waste annually by educating restaurants, grocery stores and schools on best management practices for waste management, composting, recycling and management of fats, oils and grease. Contact: Kris Wallace, 360-403-3538.
City of Everett will receive $26,250 to expand its commercial composting program to divert 98 tons of food waste annually by educating restaurants, grocery stores and schools on best management practices for waste management, composting, recycling and management of fats, oils and grease. Contact: Marla Carter, 425-257-8875.
For a listing of all the grant projects statewide, link here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/CPG0910OffSetListPR.pdf
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Media Contacts:
Larry Altose, media relations, Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue, 425-649-7009
Kathy Davis, media relations, Lacey, 360-407-6149
Shelly McMurry, Solid Waste and Financial Assistance, 360-407-6223
For more information:
Coordinated Prevention Grants Program:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/cpg.html
Beyond Waste Initiative:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
