133rd District

Local governments awarded grants

State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd, recently announced several municipalities were awarded $185,905 in grant allocations for leaf composting, curbside recycling and other waste management and recycling efforts.

“It’s important that we continue bolstering recycling efforts, and these dollars will ensure those efforts are continued,” McNeill said. “We’ve only been given one earth and these investments are impactful, helping our communities remain proactive in protecting our resources while lessening environmental impacts.”

The local governments in Lehigh County receiving grant money are:

•Coplay Borough - $9,243

•Fountain Hill - $34,821

•Salisbury Township - $132,598

•Whitehall Township - $9,243

McNeill said the funding is part of a package of recycling development and implementation grants to help communities launch or continue successful programs.

The grants are funded through the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, a law that addresses litter prevention across Pennsylvania. Grant allocations are based on the total tons recycled in the previous year by the applying municipality.

Examples of eligible projects include leaf compost facility operations, developing web-based programs on recycling for consumers, expanding recycling processing facilities, installing data collection systems on recycling vehicles, continuing and creating curbside recycling programs and developing educational materials to encourage residents to properly recycle.

Municipalities and counties in Pennsylvania are eligible for up to 90 percent funding of approved recycling program costs via the grant program.

Financially distressed municipalities as defined under the Financial Distressed Communities Act are eligible for an additional funding amount of 10 percent of approved costs.

Grants were also awarded based on programs designed to meet current market demands for recyclable goods.