Berkshire Communities Awarded Recycling, Waste Reduction Grants
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $4 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grants to 285 municipalities and regional solid waste districts, that will help communities maximize their recycling, composting and waste reduction programs.
"Every day, communities across Massachusetts are taking important steps towards environmental protection and sustainability through waste reduction," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "This funding will further empower municipalities to implement innovative programs and policies that are proven to maximize reuse, recycling, and composting."
In Berkshire County:
Pay-As-You-Throw Program Start-up Funds
- Monterey $ 2,700.00
Recycling Dividends Program
- Adams $ 4,550.00
- Cheshire $ 4,200.00
- Dalton $ 4,900.00
- Egremont $ 4,550.00
- Florida $ 1,960.00
- Great Barrington $ 1,225.00
- Hancock $ 1,470.00
- Hinsdale $ 4,550.00
- Lee $ 1,960.00
- Monterey $ 1,225.00
- New Marlborough $ 1,470.00
- Otis $ 1,225.00
- Peru $ 4,200.00
- Pittsfield $ 17,500.00
- Sandisfield $ 1,225.00
- Savoy $ 5,250.00
- Sheffield $ 4,550.00
- Stockbridge $ 1,470.00
- Washington $ 735.00
- Williamstown $ 4,900.00
Regional Small-Scale Initiatives
- Northern Berkshires Solid Waste Management District (NBSWMD) $ 1,500.00
Shed or Equipment for Reuse Swap Shop
- Dalton $ 6,000.00
- New Marlborough $ 6,000.00
- Peru $ 6,000.00
- Savoy $ 6,000.00
Shed for Universal Waste
- Stockbridge $ 5,000.00
MassDEP's SMRP Program provides funding for recycling, composting, reuse, and source reduction activities that will reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills and incinerators. Waste prevention and recycling reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing the embodied energy in everyday products and packaging waste and converting it into new products. More than $60 million has been awarded through the program since 2010.
This year, 278 communities qualified for the Recycling Dividends Program and will receive funding totaling more than $3 million. This program recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction. Communities receiving funding must reinvest in their own municipal recycling efforts. Under the program, 12 municipalities are being awarded grants of more than $50,000: Attleboro, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester.
Additional grant funds are being awarded to support start-up incentives for Pay-As-You-Throw programs, containers to direct mattresses to recycling facilities, wheeled carts for curbside collection of food waste, equipment for the collection of mercury-bearing items, and regional small-scale initiatives.
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