136 Submission date for recycling program development and implementation grants under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988

Submission Date for Recycling Program Development and Implementation Grants under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988

[38 Pa.B. 548]
[Saturday, January 26, 2008]

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces the availability of applications to municipalities for recycling program grant assistance under section 902 of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (act) (53 P. S.§ 4000.902). Municipalities eligible for recycling grants include counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships, home rule municipalities, councils of governments, consortiums, or similar entities established by two or more municipalities under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23, Subchapter A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation).

   Applicants must be in compliance with the act and the implementing regulations, the Department's Guidelines for Proper Management of Recyclable Materials, and any previous grant contract provisions to be eligible to receive grant funding. County applicants should be in compliance with planning and other county-related provisions of the act. Applicants who are not in compliance with the act's annual reporting requirements will not be considered in this grant application round. Programs operating in municipalities covered by land use plans and ordinances (as outlined under Acts 67 and 68 of 2000) or projects that are in compliance with their municipality's land use plan will receive priority over similar programs and projects absent such conditions.

   Municipalities are eligible for 90% funding of approved recycling program costs. Municipalities considered financially distressed by the Department of Community and Economic Development under the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act (53 P. S. §§ 11071.101--11701.501) are eligible for 100% of approved costs. An application requesting more than $500,000 in grant funding will not be accepted. Because funding for educational efforts will be limited, applicants should, when practicable, allocate these costs toward their required match.

   Applicants must submit a plan as part of their funding request that includes definitive actions and strategies for optimizing program self-sufficiency. The plan shall include, at a minimum, strategies for reducing costs and generating revenues, provisions for establishing incentives associated with waste reduction and recycling, mechanisms for public outreach and stakeholder input and tracking mechanisms to document progress toward sustainability milestones until optimum sustainability is realized. The Department's technical report on Building Financially Sustainable Recycling Programs can provide assistance in developing such methods and strategies. The technical report can be found on the Department's website at www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/recycle.htm. Applicants that fail to complete the Sustainability Plan portion of the application will not be considered for funding.

   Applicants requesting support for the following (and demonstrating how the request will lead toward greater program self-sufficiency) will receive priority for funding:

   1.  Development and implementation of an incentive based pricing and collection program designed to increase the quantities and types of recyclable materials and reduce the quantity of waste collected.

   2.  Vehicles for the curbside collection of materials from residents that utilize an energy source other than, or in addition to, petroleum products. Pick-up trucks will not be considered eligible for funding.

   3.  Multimunicipal collection, processing and materials marketing programs where a formal intergovernmental agreement/program exists for cost sharing.

   4.  Equipment and education necessary to collect and/or process fiber (corrugated, junk mail, mixed paper, and the like) not currently included in the applicant's recycling program.

   Projects eligible for grant funding are those which divert the following recyclable materials from municipal solid waste: clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, corrugated paper, other marketable grades of paper, plastics, source separated food scraps and leaf and yard wastes.

   Projects involving municipalities lacking a mandatory trash collection program or projects seeking support for a residential recycling program where a corresponding commercial recycling program does not exist will not be considered for funding. Applicants seeking funds to replace curbside collection containers and/or collection vehicles will need to demonstrate that the new equipment will increase collection efficiencies and tonnage of materials.

   Eligible recycling program development costs include: recycling program design costs, recycling market investigations, development of recycling market commitments, development of recycling program ordinances, developing of recycling public education programs, and the costs of developing contracts for procuring equipment or services necessary for the operation of the recycling program.

   Eligible recycling program implementation costs include: purchase or lease of vehicles used to collect recyclables (including automated and single-stream collection vehicles), transport of recyclables to processing facilities or markets, including vehicles used in the operation of a materials recovery facility; purchase of reusable containers for the collection or storage of recyclable materials; acquisition or renovation, or both, of buildings for the processing or storage of recovered materials; equipment used to process or manufacture recyclable materials into usable products; and improvements to land needed to operate a recycling facility or yard waste composting facility authorized under 25 Pa. Code § 271.103(h) (relating to permit-by-rule for municipal waste processing facilities other than for infectious or chemotherapeutic waste; qualifying facilities; general requirements); and the costs associated with educating the public on recycling program requirements. Under this grant solicitation, promotional items, glass crushing equipment (unless specific marketing arrangements have been identified), vehicles equipped with compaction units (except for the sole collection of yard waste, paper fiber and/or single-stream collection where a facility equipped to process such material has been identified), backyard composting units and public recycling containers for parks and streetscapes will not be considered eligible for funding. Other eligible and noneligible costs are listed in the grant application packet. Composting projects and programs will be considered to be recycling projects or programs accordingly.

   A municipality must retain sole ownership of equipment or facilities funded by the grant. Funding for equipment or facilities purchased for the recycling program that is used for recycling and other purposes will be prorated according to its recycling use. Funding for certain leaf and yard waste collection equipment may be limited according to its seasonal use. Funding for wood chipping equipment will be approved only when the equipment is part of an approved yard waste composting facility operating under the Department's guidelines and where the material is collected curbside from residents. Funding of street sweepers for the purpose of leaf collection will not be considered.

   Funding may be restricted in situations where equipment or services requested through a grant application may be available from the public or private sector within the county of the applicant. Public notices may be required before the grant application may be submitted depending upon the nature of the funding request. When the municipality submits the recycling grant application to the Department, it must include proof of compliance with the notification requirements, a description of any responses received to the notice, and an explanation of why the municipality has concluded the mechanical processing equipment is not available to the program from the private sector.

   Potential applicants must contact the appropriate Department regional planning and recycling coordinator to schedule a preapplication conference to discuss application requirements and program particulars. Applications will be returned to municipalities that fail to schedule a preapplication conference. Grant application forms are available from the Department's regional offices and the Department's website, www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keywords: Recycling Grants).

   Grant applications must be received or postmarked by June 20, 2008. Applications received by the Department after that date will not be considered during the current round of solicitation. Applications must be on forms provided by the Department, with two copies submitted to the Department's Central Office (Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg) and one copy submitted to the appropriate county recycling coordinator. Grant awards will be predicated on the receipt of recycling fees required by sections 701 and 702 of the act (53 P. S. §§ 4000.701 and 4000.702) and the availability of moneys in the Recycling Fund.

   Inquiries concerning this notice should be directed to Mark Vottero, Recycling Grants Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, Bureau of Waste Management, Division of Waste Minimization and Planning, P. O. Box 8472, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8472, [e-mail].

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

Regional Planning and Recycling Coordinators

Southeast Region

   Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties

Waste Management Program
2 East Main Street
Norristown, PA 19401
[phone]
Calvin Ligons, [e-mail]
Ann Ryan, [e-mail]
Mary Alice Reisse, [e-mail]

Northeast Region

   Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties

Waste Management Program
2 Public Square
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0790
[phone]
Chris Fritz, [e-mail]

Southcentral Region

   Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York Counties

Waste Management Program
909 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-8200
[phone]
Walt Dinda, [e-mail]

   Bedford, Blair, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties

Waste Management Program
3001 Fairway Drive
Altoona, PA 16602
[phone]
Mike Union, [e-mail]

Northcentral Region

   Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union Counties

Waste Management Program
208 W. 3rd Street, Suite 101
Williamsport, PA 17701
[phone]
Michelle Ferguson, [e-mail]

Southwest Region

   Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland Counties

Waste Management Program
400 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4745
[phone]
Sharon Svitek, [e-mail]
Stephen Sales, [e-mail]
Bradley Cunninghmam, [e-mail]

Northwest Region

   Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren Counties

Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance
230 Chestnut Street
Meadville, PA 16335-3481
[phone]
Guy McUmber, [e-mail]

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-136. Filed for public inspection January 25, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]