Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ohio EPA awards $1.35 million in grants to develop recycling market

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $1.35 million in grants that will further develop the state’s recycling market, allowing for the diversion of more plastics, glass, fiber and other materials from regional waste streams and creating 13 new jobs.

The agency awarded eight grants ranging from $44,433 to $250,000, as part of its mandate to reduce waste and promote recycling and litter prevention programs. While the grants are available to businesses, they must partner with public entities to qualify.

The bulk of the funding went to Price Farm Organics, which partnered with the Delaware, Knox, Morrow and Marion County Solid Waste Districts; Econopia, partnered with Franklin County; Waste Management, partnered with Summit and Akron Solid Waste Management Authority; and Zansesville Energy, partnered with The Ohio State University. Each won a $250,000 grant.

Supported projects from the round of recycling market development grants include the purchasing of equipment-like balers, grinders, in-vessel processing units, bag breaking units and de-packing systems. Some grants also went toward the purchasing of recycling trucks and containers to allow for further collection from nearby communities.

The agency encourages Ohioans to recycle all appropriate materials and to buy products with recycled content.