May 7, 2014
Harrisburg – May 7, 2014 – A $171,783 grant to aid the recycling program in The City of Arnold in Westmoreland County was approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), according to state Sen. James Brewster (D-McKeesport)
“The grant program provides funding for recycling programs and municipalities and counties are eligible for up to 90 percent of program costs,” Brewster said. “For many years, this recycling law has helped communities operate their programs and make Pennsylvania’s approach a success.
“Officials in Arnold will be able to use the grant funds to help continue paying for the reduction of material from the waste stream.”
The grants are made available via Act 101 which passed the General Assembly in 1988. This law — the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act — funds eligible projects including compost facility operations, expansion of recycling programs, curbside recycling and the crafting of educational materials an information that promotes recycling.
“There is no question that Act 101 has helped clean the environment and promote better solid waste management efforts throughout Pennsylvania,” Brewster said.
According to the DEP, there have been 54 funding rounds since the act was passed. The act mandates recycling in municipalities based on total population and population density.
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March 13, 2014
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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August 7, 2013
Harrisburg, August 7, 2013 – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently awarded a Recycling Performance Grant to New Kensington in Westmoreland County, said state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“This not only promotes better practices for the environment,” Brewster said. “It also encourages economic growth by expanding the city’s recycling industry.”
The grant of more than $7,800 will provide the community with the incentive to recover more waste through recycling.
“In 2010, New Kensington recycled nearly 1,300 tons of recycled material,” Brewster said. “I’m pleased the city gets the opportunity to expand the recycling program even further.”
This grant is in addition to the usual funds distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection to municipalities to establish and maintain recycling programs.
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January 3, 2013
McKeesport, January 3, 2013 – State Sen. James Brewster today announced a $19,621 recycling grant for Monroeville.
“This state money will help the municipality strengthen its recycling program,” Brewster said.
“Recycling programs are a great tool for protecting our environment and capitalizing on our resources. I will continue to seek state funds to assist local communities in their recycling efforts.”
The McKeesport Democrat said the grant award was based on the borough’s population and its 3,181 tons of recycled material for 2010.
Established in 1988, the “Recycling Performance Grant Program” is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The program is aimed at encouraging recycling, economic growth, job creation and market expansion.
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January 31, 2012
McKeesport, January 31, 2012 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today announced two grants totaling $1,611 for North Versailles Township’s recycling efforts.
“Recycling is an important means to cut waste and keep our environment clean,” Brewster said. “This funding will help support the township’s continued efforts.”
The grant funds are based on the township’s recycling totals in past years. The funds were awarded through the state Department of Environmental Protection, under the 1988 Recycling Performance Grant Program. Under the program, the grants are incentives to help communities increase amounts recovered through recycling; and promote economic growth through job creation and market expansion.
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