<B>Recycling Education Gets Boost</B>

New York Governor Pataki has signed a bill that provides funds for recycling education programs. "The Recycling Education Bill will provide urgently needed funds for recycling education programs," says Melanie O’Donnell, president of the New York State Association of Reduction Reuse and Recycling.

The Recycling Education Bill will allow municipalities to have access to an annual account of $2 to $5 million established through the Environmental Protection Fund to pay for recycling coordinators and other costs from operating public education programs. A local match of 50% of the funds is required.

Research has shown that recycling tonnage in New York has declined for the first time since the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) began studying the issue 10 years ago.

There has been no funding for recycling education since the early 1990s. "We are down 50% of the recycling coordinators since the early 90’s years, and many positions still standing have been assigned other tasks for their municipality as planners and engineers," says Jeffrey Edwards, legislative Co-chair of NYSAR3.

"Municipal recycling coordinators have proved to be essential contributors to New York’s solid waste program," says David Higby, the Solid Waste Project Director of Environmental Advocates in Albany. "The bill will create a permanent source of state aid for those committed professionals and their important work."