Governor Rendell Announces $20 Million in Grants to Help Counties Institute, Expand Recycling Programs

Intends to Work with Legislature on Fee Extension to Preserve Popular, Effective Program

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Local recycling and compost programs in 40 counties across Pennsylvania received a boost today as Governor Edward G. Rendell announced $20 million in grants to help support these efforts that employ tens of thousands of people and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.

The 113 recycling development and implementation grants the Governor announced will reimburse municipalities for costs associated with establishing and maintaining recycling and composting programs.

"When someone throws a bottle, can or newspaper in the recycling bin, they're not only helping to protect our environment and preserve precious resources, they're supporting an important industry," said Governor Rendell. "Pennsylvania's recycling industry is directly responsible for more than 52,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $2 billion; it also generates $20 billion in gross receipts. That's a substantial impact that's certainly worthy of the investments we're making today.

"Beyond that, recycled materials often provide the raw materials for other products. And by using more recycled materials, we also avoid the need to extract additional raw materials from the Earth."

Act 101 of 1988 required recycling in Pennsylvania's larger municipalities, required counties to develop municipal waste management plans, and created the Recycling Fund, supported by a $2-per-ton tipping fee on all landfilled materials in the state. The proceeds from the fee provide grants to offset local government expenses.

"This program has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years and continues to support our local municipalities. I intend to work with the General Assembly to amend current statute to extend the recycling fee. Without an extension the funding for these grants will no longer be available and the program will effectively shut down," noted Governor Rendell.

The Department of Environmental Protection, which administers the program, has already modified its recycling grant programs to operate at reduced funding levels in order to extend financial support to municipal recycling efforts for as long as possible. Even at these reduced levels, however, funding will no longer be available after Dec. 31, 2010, unless the fee is extended.

For more information on recycling grants and Pennsylvania's Recycling Markets Center, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Recycling.

Media contacts:

Tom Rathbun, DEP; 717-787-1323

Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: The following is a list by county of the $20 million in Recycling Development and Implementation Grants awarded by Governor Rendell.

Adams County

Adams County - Recycling Center & Community Events - $97,510

Allegheny County  

Allegheny County - Municipal Program & Special Event Recycling - $99,000

Crafton Borough - Yard Waste Program - $36,405

Franklin Park Borough - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $500,000

Town of McCandless - Curbside Recycling & Yard Waste Recycling - $500,000

North Fayette Township - Curbside Recycling - $20,900

North Hills Council of Governments - Yard Waste Program - $127,582

O'Hara Township - Yard Waste Recycling Program - $43,538

Ohio Township - Curbside Recycling & Yard Waste Recycling - $500,000

City of Pittsburgh - Curbside Recycling & Drop-off Program - $482,942

Wilkinsburg Borough - Yard Waste Program & Recycling Study - $22,800

Armstrong County

Armstrong County - Recycling Center & Drop-off Program - $117,260

Beaver County

Ambridge Borough - Yard Waste Program & Drop-off Recycling - $38,430

Beaver County - Yard Waste Program - $228,510

Chippewa Township - Yard Waste Program - $58,080

Borough of New Brighton - Yard Waste Program - $101,000

Berks County

Amity Township - Yard Waste Program - $63,016

Berks County SWA - Drop-off Recycling & School Recycling - $297,507

Bernville Borough - Yard Waste Program & Community Event Recycling - $57,376

Cumru Township - Yard Waste Program - $39,550

Exeter Township - Yard Waste Program - $213,721

Kutztown Borough - Drop-off Facility & Processing - $164,545

Marion Township - Curbside Recycling & Community Events - $8,983

Mohnton Borough - Yard Waste Program - $70,135

Shillington Borough - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $45,425

Shoemakersville Borough - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $43,465

South Heidelberg Township - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $87,317

Spring Township - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $244,254

Wyomissing Borough - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling – $55,080

Bradford County

Northern Tier - Recycling Center - $304,717

Sayre Borough - Yard Waste Composting - $343,000

Bucks County

East Rockhill Township - Yard Waste Collection & Processing - $27,000

Northampton Township - Yard Waste Processing - $496,250

Butler County

Cranberry Township - Curbside Recycling - $83,358

Cambria County

Upper Yoder Township - Yard Waste Program - $70,508

Cameron County

Cameron County - Drop-off Recycling - $60,858

Centre County

Centre County SWA - Curbside Recycling & Recycling Center - $347,360

Ferguson Township - Yard Waste Program - $38,220

State College Borough - Yard & Food Waste Recycling Programs - $302,289

Patton Township - Yard Waste Program - $171,380

Chester County

Central Chester Co. Recycling Authority - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $281,925

Phoenixville Borough - Yard Waste Program - $473,114

Valley Township - Curbside Recycling - $441,810

West Bradford Township - Curbside Recycling - $500,000

West Brandywine Township - Yard Waste Program - $171,810

Clarion County

Clarion Borough - Yard Waste Program - $282,545

Clinton County

Clinton County - Recycling Center - $199,913

Columbia County

Berwick Borough - Curbside & Drop off Recycling Program - $144,300

Town of Bloomsburg - Recycling Center & Yard Waste Program - $426,072

Cumberland County

Camp Hill Borough - Yard Waste Program - $112,093

Cumberland County R&WA - Community Events Recycling - $23,057

Hampden Township - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $128,395

Middlesex Township - Yard Waste Program - $408,773

Dauphin County

Middletown Borough - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $294,442

Susquehanna Township - Yard Waste Program - $86,786

Delaware County

Aston Township - Curbside Recycling - $144,000

Haverford Township - Yard Waste Program - $228,232

Marple Township - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $41,454

Nether Providence Township - Curbside Recycling - $207,900

Radnor Township - Yard Waste Processing - $495,000

Springfield Township - Yard Waste Program & Curbside Recycling - $94,089

Swarthmore Borough - Curbside Recycling - $74,993

Upper Chichester Township - Yard Waste Program - $153,945

Upper Darby Township - Curbside Recycling - $240,000

Erie County

City of Erie - Yard Waste Composting - $472,679

Millcreek Township - Yard Waste Composting & Curbside Recycling - $459,792

Fayette County

Fayette County - Recycling Center - $208,303

Washington Township - Yard Waste Program - $48,865

Franklin County

Chambersburg Borough - Curbside Recycling Program - $78,590

Huntingdon County

Huntingdon County - Curbside & Drop-off Recycling Programs - $61,950

Indiana County

Indiana County SWA - Recycling Center - $227,100

Lackawanna County

Mayfield Borough - Curbside Recycling - $13,680

Moosic Borough - Yard Waste & Recycling Program - $93,306

Lancaster County

East Hempfield Township - Yard Waste Program - $43,200

Lancaster City - Drop-off Facility - $318,831

Mount Joy Borough - Yard Waste Processing - $254,525

Lebanon County

Lebanon County - Curbside & Drop-off Recycling Programs - $130,500

North Londonderry Township - Drop-off Recycling & Yard Waste Program - $32,968

North Cornwall Township - Yard Waste Program - $136,590

Palmyra Borough - Curbside Recycling & Yard Waste Program - $36,220

West Lebanon Township - Yard Waste Program - $18,504

Lehigh County

Emmaus Borough - Curbside Recycling - $2,156

Upper Macungie Township - Yard Waste Program - $39,848

Luzerne County

Dallas Area Municipal Authority - Curbside Recycling - $3,330

Dupont Borough - Curbside Recycling - $149,132

Exeter Borough - Yard Waste Program - $473,073

Municipality of Kingston - Yard Waste & Recycling Program - $221,347

Nanticoke City - Curbside Recycling - $54,441

Plains Township - Curbside Recycling - $149,132

West Pittston Borough - Curbside Recycling & Drop-off Collection - $236,782

Wright Township - Yard Waste Program - $383,990

Lycoming County

Lycoming County RMS - Drop-off Recycling & Recycling Center - $361,534

City of Williamsport - Yard Waste Program - $128,821

Mercer County

Grove City Borough - Yard Waste Composting - $156,142

Monroe County

Chestnuthill Township - Recycling Center - $209,915

Montgomery County

Abington Township - Curbside Recycling - $499,500

Conshohocken Borough - Curbside Recycling - $225,007

Plymouth Township - Curbside Recycling - $123,405

Rockledge Borough - Yard Waste Program - $32,031

Northumberland County

Coal Township - Recycling Center - $81,943

Kulpmont Borough - Curbside Recycling - $87,096

Milton Borough - Drop-off Recycling - $65,070

City of Shamokin - Curbside & Drop-off - $52,207

Philadelphia County

City of Philadelphia - Curbside Recycling - $500,000

Potter County

Potter County SWA - Drop-off Recycling - $59,205

Snyder County

Selinsgrove Borough - Yard Waste Program - $26,328

Snyder County - Recycling Drop-off - $326,975

Susquehanna County

Forest City Borough - Curbside Recycling - $132,474

Susquehanna County - Recycling Center - $46,052

Washington County

Peters Township - Yard Waste Program - $71,376

Wayne County

Wayne County - Recycling Center - $71,028

York County

Dover Township - Yard Waste Program - $71,964

Springettsbury Township - Yard Waste Program - $59,174

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor