State Awards Nearly $359,000 to 96 Municipalities in Recycling Dividends Program

The Patrick Administration announced the inaugural round of payments totaling $358,800 to 96 municipalities qualifying for the new Recycling Dividends Program (RDP), which will help cities and towns maximize their current recycling, composting and waste reduction programs.

Marlborough received a $3,600 payment.

The RDP payments range from $1,200 to $14,400 and can be utilized for things such as new recycling bins or carts, public education and outreach campaigns, collection of hard-to-recycle items and establishment of recycling programs in schools, municipal buildings and other public spaces. The new program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

“The Patrick Administration is committed to reducing the waste stream by 30 percent, which is about 2 million tons, and we need efforts big and small to attain those ambitious goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “This new Recycling Dividends Program targets community-level participation that puts us on the road to recycling success.”

“These new funds will help communities pump up their current recycling programs, capturing more materials that can be reused and helping them to reduce their waste disposal costs,” said MassDEP Commissioner David W. Cash. “This is another example of smart environmental policy resulting in smart economic policy.”

“I’d like to thank the Patrick Administration for investing in the solutions that will help cities and towns save on landfill space and on waste disposal costs through more recycling and composting,” said Senator Marc R. Pacheco, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “Not only will this Recycling Dividends Program assist our Green Communities across the Commonwealth, it will green-up the bottom line in the process.”

The RDP is the newest initiative under MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP), which was created under the Green Communities Act, which Governor Patrick signed in 2008. The Act requires that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Waste Energy Certificates (WEC) be directed to recycling programs approved by MassDEP. SMRP has invested more than $9 million in recycling programs since July of 2010.

The community payments are based on the number of households served by the municipal solid waste and recycling program.

The WEC payments received by MassDEP are deposited into the SMRP Expendable Trust, which is used to fund grants, technical assistance and education to help communities, businesses and institutions increase recycling and reduce waste.

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

Article submitted by the Patrick administration.