NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Nov. 13, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 512

For more information contact Bill Miller, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, 302-739-9403 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

$50,000 in Recycling Assistance Grants Awarded

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Governor’s Recycling Public Advisory Council announced today a total of $50,000 has been awarded in Recycling Assistance Grants for 2009 to fund projects that develop or expand innovative waste reduction, reuse or recycling activities.

Grant recipients include: six schools; three non-profit organizations, including a museum, little league committee and a homeowners association; Delaware Technical and Community College; and the University of Delaware.

Children’s House Montessori School received the largest grant of $11,732.85 to establish a composting program, produce a DVD on waste reduction, and establish outreach and education at their school in Wilmington. In addition, five other schools, Sussex Technical High School near Georgetown, Caravel Academy near Bear, North Georgetown Elementary School, Our Lady of Fatima School in Wilmington, and Wilmington Montessori School, received grants for recycling programs and education. The total award to schools was $31,788.14.

“We received 19 proposals requesting $227,095 for projects that include recycling, waste diversion, composting, and program education,” said Director of Division of Air and Waste Management James D. Werner. “All the proposals were worthy of funding, but with $50,000 in available funds, only 11 proposals were awarded grants. Investing in recycling pays dividends by reducing wasted resources, but unfortunately we do not have a dedicated or sizable funding source.”

Brock J. Vinton II, chairman of the Recycling Public Advisory Council said, “It was inspiring to review the grant applications and learn of the creative and dedicated efforts being made to reduce our waste stream and improve recycling across the state. All of the applicants should be commended for their initiative, including those applicants whose projects we could not fund, as all Delawareans are the beneficiaries of their efforts.”

The Recycling Assistance Grant Program is a competitive, matching grant program which requires recipients to provide at least 25 percent of the total project cost in either cash or in-kind services. The program aims to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste generated and disposed of in Delaware landfills and contribute towards achieving the state’s goal of recycling 51 percent of this waste. The Delaware General Assembly authorizes funding for the project.

 The recipients, grant amounts and projects are:

• Children’s House Montessori School, Wilmington: $11,732.85 to establish a composting and waste reduction program at the school, produce a DVD on recycling to local schools and incorporate composting and waste reduction into the curriculum.
  
  
• Wilmington Montessori School: $7,665 to implement a school-wide, single stream recycling program, including education.
  
  
• Sussex Technical High School, Georgetown: $7,375.80 to assist other schools in establishing recycling programs including education.
  
  
• Iron Hill Museum, Newark: $7,000 to expand a recycling outreach campaign targeting 40 schools.
  
  
• University of Delaware, Newark: $4,768.43 to expand the single-stream recycling program on campus.
  
  
• Delaware Technical and Community College, Stanton/Wilmington Campus: $4,768.43 to establish a mixed recyclables collection program on campus.
  
  
• North Georgetown Elementary, Georgetown: $1,857.42 to implement a paper recycling program at the school, including education.
  
  
• Our Lady of Fatima School, New Castle: $1,827.28 to establish a recycling program at the school, including education.
  
  
• Midway Little League, Newark: $1,385 to implement a recycling program at the ball fields.
  
  
• Caravel Academy, Bear:  $1,329.79 to establish a recycling program at the school, including education.
  
  
• Arbor Park Civic Association, Newark: $290 to educate the neighborhood and help households start composting.

The average Delawarean generates an estimated 2,400 pounds of municipal solid waste annually. Existing recycling programs capture only 22 percent of these wastes. Keeping more recyclables out of the landfills will help conserve resources, reduce reliance on imported oil, promote sustainability and extend the life of the state’s landfills.

At recycling events held at Wilmington Montessori School on Nov. 13 and Sussex Technical High School on Nov. 18, DNREC will present their grant awards.

For more information contact, Bill Miller, 302-739-9403 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Pages/Recycling.aspx