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Recycling Grants

The Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) has announced the availability of a targeted round of recycling grants totaling $1.25 million. ENR is providing the financial assistance to municipalities to operate pilot recycling projects, as required in Public Act 86-256, the Local Planning and Recycling Act.

Signed into law in 1989 by Governor James R. Thompson, the act established certain planning requirements and called upon ENR to provide these recycling grants to municipalities with populations over 20,000.

"Because of a lawsuit that tied up funding until January 1990, the availability of this special recycling grant round was delayed. We are pleased to announce the grants are now ready to be awarded. This special effort is yet another step in meeting the governor's waste reduction target of 50 percent by the year 2000 and is keeping the state at the forefront of support for recycling efforts," ENR Director Karen Witter said.

"Well-organized, comprehensive community recycling programs can assist in the recovery and reuse of up to 25 percent of the solid waste generated by community residents. This kind of effort helps hasten the day when the governor's 50 percent waste reduction goal will be achieved," Witter added.

Matching grants for pilot recycling programs are specifically targeted by law to assist Illinois cities, or a combination of municipalities, with a total population of 20,000 or more. State law also limits maximum grant awards to $50,000 and stipulates that no more than 25 grants will be awarded.

Grant recipients will be required to implement pilot recycling projects or expand existing pilot projects that demonstrate the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of a combination of recycling methods. These include curbside collection, drop-off and buy-back centers, a recycling education program, and regularly scheduled collection days. Eligible items for grant assistance include equipment for the collection and processing of recyclables and certain educational expenses.

"The citizens of Illinois understand that recycling is an important step in reducing the amount of waste going into our rapidly diminishing landfill space. A typical household in Illinois generates about 42 pounds of newspaper, 12 pounds of glass, 2 pounds of mixed plastics, 4 pounds of steel cans, and 1 pound of aluminum cans per month. The new grants will establish additional collection and recycling programs to help some larger communities recover these and other materials," said Tim Warren, acting director of ENR's Office of Solid Waste and Renewable Resources.

Through the ENR Recycling Grants Program, 127 local recycling projects have received more than $4 million in funding assistance.

To request application guidelines and proposal forms for the pilot recycling project grants, call 1-800-252-8955 toll free (within Illinois) or write to the ENR Information Clearinghouse, Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 325 West Adams Street, Room 300, Springfield, Ill., 62704-1892. The application deadline is April 16, 1990. •

April 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 23


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