Bredesen Announces $379,000 in Recycling Equipment Grants

Nashville, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced today that 19 recycling equipment grants totaling more than $379,000 have been awarded for projects to help reduce landfill waste across Tennessee.

“I’m pleased we can provide funding to support the waste reduction efforts these 19 grants represent,” said Bredesen. “This program plays an important role in our state’s strategy to encourage recycling and reduce the amount of solid waste that goes into landfills in Tennessee.”

Recycling equipment grants may be used to purchase equipment for new recycling programs, improve and expand the operation of an existing site or prepare recyclable materials for transport and marketing. Grants may be awarded to counties, cities, non-profit recycling organizations and solid waste authorities across Tennessee to help reach or exceed the goals set forth in the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991. Each recipient is required to match the state grant on a sliding scale basis. Local matching funds going toward these 19 projects totals more than $485,000.

The grant program was authorized by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and is supported from the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund that is administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation. The fund receives its revenues from a state surcharge on each ton of solid waste disposed in landfills and from a fee on new tires sold in the state.

See www.tennessee.gov/environment/news/release/2007/Mar/recyclinggrants.shtml for the recycling equipment grants announced.