Kentucky awards $4.7M in recycling, composting grants

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet is awarding about $4.7 million in grants to Kentucky municipalities, fiscal courts and foundations for 78 projects across the state to expand recycling, reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfills and improve the environmental management of household hazardous waste.

“Kentucky is fortunate that so many municipalities are stepping up to reuse and recycle to reduce the amount of solid waste piling up in our landfills,” says Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “This shows care for the environment and for each other.”

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet is awarding three types of grants. The recycling grant provides funds for counties to purchase recycling equipment with the goal of promoting sustainable regional recycling infrastructure in Kentucky. The composting grant funds the purchase of equipment to improve composting and promote creative solutions for managing food waste, lawn waste and other organic material. The household hazardous waste grant provides funds for counties to conduct annual drop-off events for their citizens to dispose of household chemicals, electronics and other potentially hazardous wastes.

The state awarded 37 recycling grants worth $2.47 million, 28 household hazardous waste grants worth $798,964 and 13 composting grants worth $1.43 million. According to a news release from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, these grants all require a 25 percent local match in the form of cash or “in kind” labor, educational activities or advertising to promote the program from those receiving the awards.

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman says some of these projects raise awareness about the importance of recycling home electronic equipment. “We all need to consider the life cycle of products and how we carefully dispose of them,” she says.

Funding for the grants comes from the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated by a $1.75 fee for each ton of municipal solid waste disposed of in Kentucky landfills. A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed here.