$4.7 Million Awarded in State Recycling, Composting and Household Hazardous Waste Grants

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 16, 2022) – Governor Andy Beshear and Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman today announced nearly $4.7 million in grants to Kentucky municipalities, fiscal courts and universities for 71 projects to expand recycling, reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills, and improve the environmental management of household hazardous waste.

“I am pleased that so many municipalities are stepping up to reuse and recycle to reduce the amount of solid waste piling up in our landfills,” Gov. Beshear said. “This promotes a healthy Kentucky and shows care for the environment and for each other.”

This program awards 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, old electronics and other potentially hazardous wastes.

There were 30 recycling grants worth $2.77 million, 30 household hazardous waste grants worth $715,874 and 11 composting grants worth $1.21 million. These grants 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. A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed here.

Secretary Goodman said some of these projects raise awareness about the importance of recycling home electronic equipment, which can contain metals such as mercury, which would be harmful to human health if put into landfills. “We all need to consider the life cycle of products and how we carefully dispose of them,” Sec. Goodman said.

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.

In order to apply for the next round of recycling, composting and household hazardous waste grants, applications should be postmarked or hand-delivered to Division of Waste Management, Recycling and Local Assistance Branch, or emailed to williamt.collins@ky.gov by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2023.  The original application and any supporting documentation must be submitted in order for an application to be complete. Application materials and more information about the division’s recycling effort can be found here.

Keep up with Gov. Beshear and the administration’s advances in economic development and infrastructure improvements at governor.ky.gov, and on the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Recycling Rumpke Style

RLA representatives tour the new Rumpke Material Recycling Facility in St. Bernard, Ohio. Photo: Chris Craig

Seven members of the Kentucky Division of Waste Management’s Recycling and Local Assistance (RLA) Branch toured the new and improved Rumpke Material Recovery Facility in St. Bernard, Ohio, on January 30.  Gary Logsdon, Chris Craig, Tom Heil,Melinda Meredith, Lisa Butler, Lynn True and Shannon Powers were able to see the advancements made by Rumpke in constructing and operating this facility after the company’s prior facility had been destroyed by a two alarm fire in 2012.

Ground for the new facility was broken in early 2013, and the facility, one of the largest and most technologically advanced in North America, was reopened in September of that year.  Rumpke hosted the facility’s open house on November 15, America Recycles Day. 

Division of Waste Management Calls for Grant Applications

Rowan County volunteers assist citizens in separating their household hazardous waste into categories during the county’s household hazardous waste event. Photo by Rowan County Solid Waste Coordinator Bob Wells.

Energy and Environment Cabinet’s (EEC) Division of Waste Management is accepting grant applications for projects that develop an integrated recycling infrastructure and offer public education programs on recycling and household hazardous waste management.

“It’s important that Kentucky maintains and expands its recycling capacity,” said EEC Secretary Len Peters. “I encourage local governments and other eligible entities to apply for these grants. These dollars can fund public education efforts on recycling that can make or break a recycling program.”