The Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) has announced is holding a series of public workshops throughout May to provide guidance and to help facilitate grant applications from the state’s schools, businesses and institutions that want to apply for $1 million available in recycling grants and low-interest loans this year. The grant and loan funding can be used to start a new recycling effort or to expand existing recycling programs and initiatives, DNREC says.
Workshops will be held at the following dates, time and locations:
- Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m., Millsboro Public Library, 217 West State St., Millsboro, Delaware 19966;
- Tuesday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m., Brandywine Hundred Library, 1300 Foulk Rd., Wilmington, Delaware 19971;
- Tuesday, May 24, at 3 p.m., Appoquinimink Library, 651 N. Broad St., Middletown, Delaware 19709;
- Wednesday, May 25, at 3 p.m., DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901.
In collaboration with the Recycling Public Advisory Council (RPAC), DNREC says it is emphasizing:
- distribution of preapproved recycling instructional information to influence positive recycling behaviors at the point where recyclable material is generated and disposed of (e.g., kitchen, office, workplace, recycling bin, cart, dumpster);
- recycling outreach, which covers recycling advertising, education and related initiatives;
- school or university recycling programs;
- source-separated food waste recycling infrastructure development; and
- business, nonprofit, community organization or local government recycling programs.
Other projects that fall outside of these areas also are eligible. The recycling program emphasizes that grant and low-interest loan applicants do not need recycling expertise to put forward a recycling grant project and that innovation and creativity are encouraged, according to DNREC.
The upcoming workshops will review:
- Universal Recycling Grants and the Low Interest Loan Program and how to access these funds for recycling projects;
- guidance and advice on how to submit a grant application or loan request;
- what happens after submission, carrying out a project; and
- tips on labeling, managing vendors, opportunities for cost savings and other useful information on the benefits of a creating or expanding recycling efforts.
While participation in the workshops is not mandatory, DNREC says it encourages representatives from schools, business owners and institution managers to attend and learn about the growing recycling opportunities in Delaware. DNREC also stresses that while most applicants request grant funding for their projects, low-interest recycling loans also are available. Grant applicants that may be partially awarded also are eligible for loans to supplement their project costs.
Grant application forms and a guidance document are available at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/Pages/RecyclingGrants.aspx. For more information, visit www.recycling.delaware.gov or call 302-739-9403, ext. 8.