Solid-Waste District Towns Receive Recycling Grants
ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District has been awarded $12,700 in grants for recycling efforts.
The Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Municipal Grants given to the member towns can be put toward their transfer stations and recycling needs. The funds were part of $1.6 million awarded to 217 municipalities and regional solid waste districts this week to help maximize recycling, composting and waste reduction programs.
The Program Coordinator Sandy Totter told the district representatives Thursday that each town received money from the state for their recycling efforts and that some towns received an extra reward for excellence.
"I just think it's great that we get these," Totter said. "They always go towards a great use."
Some 166 communities qualified for the Recycling Dividends Program, receiving payments ranging from $1,200 to $66,000, for a total of $1.39 million statewide. Three member towns were awarded RDP funds for implementing policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction.
- Williamstown received $1,600 for its pay-as-you-throw program and clothing box.
- Savoy received $1,400 for recycling, its swap shop and Salvation Army box, and its pay-as-you-throw program as well.
- Windsor received $1,200 for its swap shop and for its pay-as-you-throw program.
Those funds have to be reinvested to promote recycling through education, new equipment or projects. Towns can use the money whenever they decide on a project.
All of the 13 member towns received a Small-Scale Initiative Grant of either $500 or $750 for larger towns. The district voted to pool all of these amounts together to purchase another roll-off container.
The district itself received $1,500.
According to Gov. Charlie Baker's office, the number of municipalities that qualified for the RDP increased 21 percent over last year and the value of the awards also increased. Springfield, for example, received $54,000. The recycling grant program is through the state Department of Environmental Protection.
District members also agreed it is time to start searching for a new program coordinator. Totter will retire at the end of the year.
The commissioners decided to collaborate and create a condensed job description that can be placed on the job advertisement. They hope to start the process by the next meeting.
Totter said she is aware of five people interested in the position and they are all qualified.
In other business, Totter said she "unofficially" submitted the Adams Transfer Station proposal to the state Department of Environmental Protection for review.
"It is kind of like a soft opening, where they can look at it and make sure we didn’t miss anything before we officially submit," she said. "I hope to hear back from them soon."
The town wants to turn its recycling center on East Road into a transfer station in the hopes of bringing in some revenue. Currently, residents can pay to use the North Adams Transfer Station or a private hauler.
There will be two electronic and bulky waste collections: one on Sept. 24 in Lanesborough and one Oct. 8 in Clarksburg. Both will be from noon to 3.
Tags: NBSWD, state grant, transfer station,
