The state of Washington’s Department of Ecology awarded a host of grants to six counties in the state to start programs to improve the recycling of materials within the state.
The grants, issued to Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Okanogan and Yakima counties, are more than the Coordinated Prevention Grants that are awarded by the DOE every two years.
In the counties in central Washington, nine projects will receive a total of $243,355. The projects will be designed and running this summer.
The funds come from a tax paid by wholesale distributors of petroleum and other hazardous materials, under the voter-approved Toxic Cleanup Act of 1989.
In Benton County, the city of Richland is getting $14,000 to sponsor a collection event for televisions, computer monitors and other electronic waste. Collected materials will be recycled.
The Chelan-Douglas Health District is getting $23,500 to design and carry out a fruit-waste study examining the beneficial use potential of waste apples as a soil amendment.
Kittitas County Solid Waste received $27,757 to promote a thermometer exchange program that will assist residents wanting to exchange mercury fever thermometers with less toxic alternatives.
Okanogan County Public Works will use its grant of $7,500 to set up collection sites for recycling ni-cad and other household batteries.
The town of Twisp will use its grant of $47,598 to purchase a glass crusher and start recycling glass collected from the surrounding area.
Yakima County Public Works was awarded a total of $123,000 for several projects. Funding will be used to study what wastes are generated by residential, agricultural and industrial activities.
The money will pay for a tube crusher to be located at the Household Hazardous Waste facility, so residents will have a place to drop off fluorescent lighting tubes where they can be safely crushed, capturing and recycling both the mercury within and the glass.
Funding also will cover the costs classes for gardeners who wish to learn about xeriscaping, integrated pest management and other practices that use less water and pesticides and re-use organic matter.
Lastly, the money will go into educational efforts aimed at Selah school children and their parents and designed to increase participation in Selah's curbside recycling program.