<B>NY Recycling Bill Passes</B>

A bill to provide funding for recycling programs in New York State passed both houses and was signed by Governor George Pataki earlier this week.

The Recycling Education Bill allows municipalities to tap into an account of between $2-$5 million established through the Environmental Protection Fund to pay for recycling coordinators and other expenses related to operating a public education program for recycling. The bill requires a local match of at least 50 percent.

According to Jeffrey Edwards, legislative Co-chair of the New York State Association of Reduction Reuse and Recycling, the number of recycling coordinators since the early 1990's is down by around 50 percent. "Many positions still standing have been assigned other tasks for their municipality as planners and engineers."

The latest New York State Department of Environmental Conservation report shows recycling tonnage declined in 1998. For the year 7.415 million tons were recycled, compared to the previous year's figure of 7.432 million tons.