Pennsylvania Creates Recycling Markets Center

The state of Pennsylvania has created the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center with the goal of encouraging the continued growth and economic health of the state’s recycling industries, as well as reaching state-mandated recycling goals.

 “Recycling has become one of the engines that drives Pennsylvania’s economy, generating $18.4 billion in annual sales and contributing $305 million in state taxes,” said Kathleen McGinty, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection. “The success of our recycling program is proof that sustained economic growth does not have to come at the expense of environmental stewardship. This center will assist with developing healthy, accessible markets for Pennsylvania’s recycled materials, and help producers of recycled-content products overcome long-time market barriers and inefficiencies.”

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Act 175 of 2002 requires the DEP to develop a Recycling Program Plan that includes a Market Development Program, and formulate strategies to make recycling programs in Pennsylvania self-sufficient. Market Development Programs will be financed by the Recycling Fund, which is supported by a $2 per ton fee on all materials disposed of in landfills in Pennsylvania. Act 175 extended the Recycling Fund fee through 2008.

The largest and most ambitious aspect of the Market Development Program is the creation of the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC). The mission of the RMC will be to expand and develop more secure and stronger markets for recovered secondary materials, stimulate demand for products with recycled content, and research and maintain up-to-date market trend data.

The RMC will be the lead organization for the development of recycling markets in Pennsylvania, providing support to generators, haulers, processors, manufacturers and end-users of recycled materials and products.

DEP is soliciting applications from all nonprofit corporations, including but not limited to businesses, environmental groups and trade organizations, to establish, support and oversee creation of the RMC. The department is encouraging the formation of partnerships among these organizations, or between organizations and the private sector, in order to meet the requirements of the RMC grant. Grant applications must be submitted by March 5, 2004.

Two additional grants also are being offered as part of the Market Development Program.

Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development grants offer up to $250,000 in reimbursements to for-profit and nonprofit entities for equipment costs associated with increasing the use of Pennsylvania-generated recycled material content in products. A total of $500,000 in grants is available. Grant applications must be submitted by Jan. 30, 2004.

Composting Infrastructure Development grants will award up to $75,000 in reimbursements to for-profit and nonprofit entities for equipment costs associated with increasing the use of food, yard and certain types of residual wastes. A total of $225,000 is available for this program. Grant applications must be submitted by Feb. 13, 2004.

Both grant programs require a 20 percent match from the applicant.

 “The increased ability of markets to consume materials from Pennsylvania’s recycling programs will encourage development and expansion of the recycling industry here,” Secretary McGinty said. “That will directly benefit our economy.” In Pennsylvania, some 81,000 people—or 3.5 percent of the jobs in the state—are employed at 3,247 recycling and reuse facilities, producing an annual payroll of $2.9 billion. Pennsylvania recycles more glass, metal, paper, plastic and rubber than any other state in the Northeast, and has the second highest recycling employment, payroll and sales numbers in the country.