Local governments in northwestern Washington will receive seven grants totaling $415,958 to support waste reduction and recycling projects in five counties.
Statewide, the Washington Department of Ecology granted over $1 million for 24 projects at the local and county level. Ecology’s Coordinated Prevention Grant program funds the projects.
“We are pleased to support these innovative projects that expand recycling, composting and toxics reduction efforts,” said Laurie Davies, Ecology Waste 2 Resources program manager. “Reducing waste and improving how we manage what remains is good for public health and our economy.”
Grants were awarded in four categories, with the following totals:
- Solid waste enforcement: $205,285
- Waste reduction, recycling: $79,800
- Organics (yard and food waste, land-clearing debris): $65,008
- Moderate-risk waste (small volumes of hazardous wastes): $65,865
Bellingham will use $28,440 to promote its pharmaceutical take-back program.
Issaquah will use $11,500 to add recycling containers to parks and other open spaces.
Kitsap County will use $45,000 to develop a multifamily recycling outreach program, using a community-based social marketing approach.
Kitsap Public Health District will use $90,750 to enforce solid waste regulations by investigating complaints of illegal dumping and improper solid waste handling.
San Juan County will use $23,300 for community education on proper recycling practices and achieving zero-waste goals, improved signage and other facility enhancements, and a scale to track items diverted for re-use.
Seattle will use $65,008 to pilot a neighborhood food-waste prevention program.
Public Health – Seattle & King County will use $114,535 to inspect exempt and permitted solid waste facilities and to respond to solid waste complaints.
Snohomish County will use $37,425 to analyze efficient methods to collect, transport, store and dispose of unwanted medicines in the county’s pharmaceuticals take-back program.
Coordinated Prevention Grants come from hazardous substance tax funding created by Washington voters when they passed Initiative 97 – the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) – in 1988. Funding is dedicated to environmental cleanups and protection in Washington.
