Brewster Applauds Grant Funding for Recycling and Pollution Control Programs

McKeesport – March 13, 2014 – Three separate grants to bolster recycling and pollution control have been awarded to Alcoa Technical Center, Westmoreland County and Allegheny County, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.

“Allegheny and Westmoreland counties have been awarded grant funding under the Recycling Performance Grant Program that will help support their recycling programs,” Brewster said. “The funding awarded to Alcoa under the Pennsylvania Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Grant Program is important because it rewards the development of hazardous waste collection events.

“Providing grant funding through these programs is an excellent way to sustain the efforts and promote environmental protection.”

Allegheny County will receive a grant of $39,798, Westmoreland is slated to get $45,858 in Act 101 grant funding while $9,209 is earmarked for Alcoa Technical Center under Act 190. The state Department of Environmental Protection administers the programs.

Act 101’s Performance Grant Program was created as an incentive for communities to increase the amount of materials received via recycling. The grant funding awarded under the performance program is an addition to money that is allocated by the department to establish and maintain the municipality’s recycling program.

The Alcoa grant was awarded through Act 190 which supports the development and implementation of pollution prevention and education programs. The program also enables small business to participate in collection efforts.

Brewster, who formerly served as mayor of McKeesport and president of council, said he had a working knowledge of the usefulness of the recycling program and how it contributes to a community’s quality of life.

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