FRANKFORT, Ky. — More than $4.7 million in grants will go to Kentucky municipalities, fiscal courts and foundations for 78 projects across the commonwealth to expand recycling, reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills and improve the environmental management of household hazardous waste.
“Kentucky is fortunate that so many municipalities are stepping up to reuse and recycle to reduce the amount of solid waste piling up in our landfills,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This shows care for the environment and for each other.”
This program awards three types of grants. The recycling grant provides funds for counties to purchase recycling equipment with the goal of promoting sustainable regional recycling infrastructure in Kentucky. The composting grant funds the purchase of equipment to improve composting and promote creative solutions for managing food waste, lawn waste and other organic material. The household hazardous waste grant provides funds for counties to conduct annual drop-off events for their citizens to dispose of household chemicals, old electronics and other potentially hazardous wastes.
There were 37 recycling grants worth $2.47 million, 28 household hazardous waste grants worth $798,964 and 13 composting grants worth $1.43 million. These grants require a 25 percent local match in the form of cash or “in kind” labor, educational activities or advertising to promote the program from those receiving the awards. A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed here.
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said some of these projects raise awareness about the importance of recycling home electronic equipment, which can contain metals such as mercury, which would be harmful to human health if put into landfills. “We all need to consider the life cycle of products and how we carefully dispose of them,” Goodman said.
Funding for the grants comes from the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated by a $1.75 fee for each ton of municipal solid waste disposed of in Kentucky landfills.
For more information about the division’s recycling efforts, please visit the Kentucky Division of Waste Management website.
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